| Christian Standard Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then Job answered: | 1Then Job answered: |
| 2No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you! | 2No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you! |
| 3But I also have a mind like you; I am not inferior to you. Who doesn't know the things you are talking about? | 3But I also have a mind like you; I am not inferior to you. Who doesn't know the things you are talking about? |
| 4I am a laughingstock to my friends, by calling on God, who answers me. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock. | 4I am a laughingstock to my friends, by calling on God, who answers me. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock. |
| 5The one who is at ease holds calamity in contempt and thinks it is prepared for those whose feet are slipping. | 5The one who is at ease holds calamity in contempt and thinks it is prepared for those whose feet are slipping. |
| 6The tents of robbers are safe, and those who trouble God are secure; God holds them in his hands. | 6The tents of robbers are safe, and those who trouble God are secure; God holds them in his hands. |
| 7But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. | 7But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. |
| 8Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you; let the fish of the sea inform you. | 8Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you; let the fish of the sea inform you. |
| 9Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? | 9Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? |
| 10The life of every living thing is in his hand, as well as the breath of all mankind. | 10The life of every living thing is in his hand, as well as the breath of all mankind. |
| 11Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food? | 11Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food? |
| 12Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life. | 12Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life. |
| 13Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are his. | 13Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are his. |
| 14Whatever he tears down cannot be rebuilt; whoever he imprisons cannot be released. | 14Whatever he tears down cannot be rebuilt; whoever he imprisons cannot be released. |
| 15When he withholds water, everything dries up, and when he releases it, it destroys the land. | 15When he withholds water, everything dries up, and when he releases it, it destroys the land. |
| 16True wisdom and power belong to him. The deceived and the deceiver are his. | 16True wisdom and power belong to him. The deceived and the deceiver are his. |
| 17He leads counselors away barefoot and makes judges go mad. | 17He leads counselors away barefoot and makes judges go mad. |
| 18He releases the bonds put on by kings and fastens a belt around their waists. | 18He releases the bonds put on by kings and fastens a belt around their waists. |
| 19He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows established leaders. | 19He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows established leaders. |
| 20He deprives trusted advisers of speech and takes away the elders' good judgment. | 20He deprives trusted advisers of speech and takes away the elders' good judgment. |
| 21He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the strong. | 21He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the strong. |
| 22He reveals mysteries from the darkness and brings the deepest darkness into the light. | 22He reveals mysteries from the darkness and brings the deepest darkness into the light. |
| 23He makes nations great, then destroys them; he enlarges nations, then leads them away. | 23He makes nations great, then destroys them; he enlarges nations, then leads them away. |
| 24He deprives the world's leaders of reason, and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland. | 24He deprives the world's leaders of reason, and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland. |
| 25They grope around in darkness without light; he makes them stagger like a drunkard. | 25They grope around in darkness without light; he makes them stagger like a drunkard. |
| The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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