Job 12 Parallel Bible Translations

Job 12 ▼
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1 Then Job spoke again: Then Job answered and said: Then Job replied:
2 “You people really know everything, don’t you? And when you die, wisdom will die with you! “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. “Doubtless you are the only people who matter, and wisdom will die with you!
3 Well, I know a few things myself— and you’re no better than I am. Who doesn’t know these things you’ve been saying? But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these? But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?
4 Yet my friends laugh at me, for I call on God and expect an answer. I am a just and blameless man, yet they laugh at me. I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. “I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God and he answered— a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!
5 People who are at ease mock those in trouble. They give a push to people who are stumbling. In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip. Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6 But robbers are left in peace, and those who provoke God live in safety— though God keeps them in his power. The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand. The tents of marauders are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure— those God has in his hand.
7 “Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you. or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 For they all know that my disaster has come from the hand of the LORD. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
10 For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being. In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
11 The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods. Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food? Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?
12 Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
13 “But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his. “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.
14 What he destroys cannot be rebuilt. When he puts someone in prison, there is no escape. If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open. What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; those he imprisons cannot be released.
15 If he holds back the rain, the earth becomes a desert. If he releases the waters, they flood the earth. If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.
16 Yes, strength and wisdom are his; deceivers and deceived are both in his power. With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. To him belong strength and insight; both deceived and deceiver are his.
17 He leads counselors away, stripped of good judgment; wise judges become fools. He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools. He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges.
18 He removes the royal robe of kings. They are led away with ropes around their waist. He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips. He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist.
19 He leads priests away, stripped of status; he overthrows those with long years in power. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows officials long established.
20 He silences the trusted adviser and removes the insight of the elders. He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders. He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders.
21 He pours disgrace upon princes and disarms the strong. He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong. He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
22 “He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom. He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.
23 He builds up nations, and he destroys them. He expands nations, and he abandons them. He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.
24 He strips kings of understanding and leaves them wandering in a pathless wasteland. He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste.
25 They grope in the darkness without a light. He makes them stagger like drunkards. They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man. They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.
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