Job 12-14

New International Version

² “Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
    and wisdom will die with you!^(A)
3 But I have a mind as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know all these things?^(B)

⁴ “I have become a laughingstock^(C) to my friends,^(D)
    though I called on God and he answered^(E)—
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!^(F)
5 Those who are at ease have contempt^(G) for misfortune
    as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.^(H)
6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed,^(I)
    and those who provoke God are secure^(J)—
    those God has in his hand.^[a]

⁷ “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,^(K)
    or the birds in the sky,^(L) and they will tell you;^(M)
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
⁹ Which of all these does not know^(N)
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?^(O)
10 In his hand is the life^(P) of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.^(Q)
11 Does not the ear test words
    as the tongue tastes food?^(R)
12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?^(S)
    Does not long life bring understanding?^(T)

¹³ “To God belong wisdom^(U) and power;^(V)
    counsel and understanding are his.^(W)
14 What he tears down^(X) cannot be rebuilt;^(Y)
    those he imprisons cannot be released.^(Z)
15 If he holds back the waters,^(AA) there is drought;^(AB)
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.^(AC)
16 To him belong strength and insight;^(AD)
    both deceived and deceiver are his.^(AE)
17 He leads rulers away stripped^(AF)
    and makes fools of judges.^(AG)
18 He takes off the shackles^(AH) put on by kings
    and ties a loincloth^[b] around their waist.^(AI)
19 He leads priests away stripped^(AJ)
    and overthrows officials long established.^(AK)
20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers
    and takes away the discernment of elders.^(AL)
21 He pours contempt on nobles^(AM)
    and disarms the mighty.^(AN)
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness^(AO)
    and brings utter darkness^(AP) into the light.^(AQ)
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;^(AR)
    he enlarges nations,^(AS) and disperses them.^(AT)
24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;^(AU)
    he makes them wander in a trackless waste.^(AV)
25 They grope in darkness with no light;^(AW)
    he makes them stagger like drunkards.^(AX)

13 “My eyes have seen all this,^(AY)
    my ears have heard and understood it.
² What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.^(AZ)
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty^(BA)
    and to argue my case with God.^(BB)
4 You, however, smear me with lies;^(BC)
    you are worthless physicians,^(BD) all of you!^(BE)
5 If only you would be altogether silent!^(BF)
    For you, that would be wisdom.^(BG)
6 Hear now my argument;
    listen to the pleas of my lips.^(BH)
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
    Will you speak deceitfully for him?^(BI)
8 Will you show him partiality?^(BJ)
    Will you argue the case for God?
⁹ Would it turn out well if he examined you?^(BK)
    Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?^(BL)
10 He would surely call you to account
    if you secretly showed partiality.^(BM)
11 Would not his splendor^(BN) terrify you?
    Would not the dread of him fall on you?^(BO)
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.^(BP)

¹³ “Keep silent^(BQ) and let me speak;^(BR)
    then let come to me what may.^(BS)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?^(BT)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope^(BU) in him;^(BV)
    I will surely^[c] defend my ways to his face.^(BW)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,^(BX)
    for no godless^(BY) person would dare come before him!^(BZ)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;^(CA)
    let my words ring in your ears.
¹⁸ Now that I have prepared my case,^(CB)
    I know I will be vindicated.^(CC)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?^(CD)
    If so, I will be silent^(CE) and die.^(CF)

²⁰ “Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
²¹ Withdraw your hand^(CG) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.^(CH)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,^(CI)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.^(CJ)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?^(CK)
    Show me my offense and my sin.^(CL)
24 Why do you hide your face^(CM)
    and consider me your enemy?^(CN)
25 Will you torment^(CO) a windblown leaf?^(CP)
    Will you chase^(CQ) after dry chaff?^(CR)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.^(CS)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;^(CT)
    you keep close watch on all my paths^(CU)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

²⁸ “So man wastes away like something rotten,
    like a garment^(CV) eaten by moths.^(CW)

14 “Mortals, born of woman,^(CX)
    are of few days^(CY) and full of trouble.^(CZ)
2 They spring up like flowers^(DA) and wither away;^(DB)
    like fleeting shadows,^(DC) they do not endure.^(DD)
3 Do you fix your eye on them?^(DE)
    Will you bring them^[d] before you for judgment?^(DF)
4 Who can bring what is pure^(DG) from the impure?^(DH)
    No one!^(DI)
5 A person’s days are determined;^(DJ)
    you have decreed the number of his months^(DK)
    and have set limits he cannot exceed.^(DL)
6 So look away from him and let him alone,^(DM)
    till he has put in his time like a hired laborer.^(DN)

⁷ “At least there is hope for a tree:^(DO)
    If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
    and its new shoots^(DP) will not fail.^(DQ)
8 Its roots may grow old in the ground
    and its stump^(DR) die in the soil,
⁹ yet at the scent of water^(DS) it will bud
    and put forth shoots like a plant.^(DT)
10 But a man dies and is laid low;^(DU)
    he breathes his last and is no more.^(DV)
11 As the water of a lake dries up
    or a riverbed becomes parched and dry,^(DW)
12 so he lies down and does not rise;^(DX)
    till the heavens are no more,^(DY) people will not awake
    or be roused from their sleep.^(DZ)

¹³ “If only you would hide me in the grave^(EA)
    and conceal me till your anger has passed!^(EB)
If only you would set me a time
    and then remember^(EC) me!^(ED)
14 If someone dies, will they live again?
    All the days of my hard service^(EE)
    I will wait for my renewal^[e](EF) to come.
¹⁵ You will call and I will answer you;^(EG)
    you will long for the creature your hands have made.^(EH)
16 Surely then you will count my steps^(EI)
    but not keep track of my sin.^(EJ)
17 My offenses will be sealed^(EK) up in a bag;^(EL)
    you will cover over my sin.^(EM)

¹⁸ “But as a mountain erodes and crumbles^(EN)
    and as a rock is moved from its place,^(EO)
19 as water wears away stones
    and torrents^(EP) wash away the soil,^(EQ)
    so you destroy a person’s hope.^(ER)
20 You overpower them once for all, and they are gone;^(ES)
    you change their countenance and send them away.^(ET)
21 If their children are honored, they do not know it;
    if their offspring are brought low, they do not see it.^(EU)
22 They feel but the pain of their own bodies^(EV)
    and mourn only for themselves.^(EW)”