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Job 12
Job
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Chapter 12
God’s wisdom is best seen in the dreadful works of his omnipotence
1
Job spoke next. He said:
2
Doubtless, you are the voice of the people, and when you die, wisdom will die with you!
3
I can reflect as deeply as ever you can, I am no way inferior to you. And who, for that matter, has not observed as much?
4
A man becomes a laughing-stock to his friends if he cries to God and expects an answer. The blameless innocent incurs only mockery.
5
‘Add insult to injury,’ think the prosperous ‘strike the man now that he is staggering!’
6
And yet, the tents of brigands are left in peace, and those who challenge God live in safety, and make a god of their two fists!
7
If you would learn more, ask the cattle, seek information from the birds of the air.
8
The creeping things of earth will give you lessons, and the fishes of the sea will tell you all.
9
There is not one such creature but will know this state of things is all of God’s own making.
10
He holds in his power the soul of every living thing, and the breath of each man’s body.
11
The ear is a judge of speeches, is it not, just as the palate can tell one food from another?
12
Wisdom is found in the old, and discretion comes with great age.
13
But in him there is wisdom, and power too, and decision no less than discretion.
14
What he destroys, none can rebuild; whom he imprisons, none can release.
15
Is there a drought? He has checked the waters. Do these play havoc with the earth? He has let them loose
16
In him is strength, in him resourcefulness, beguiler and beguiled alike are both his slaves
17
He robs the country’s counsellors of their wits, turns judges into fools.
18
His hands untie the belt of kings, and bind a rope around their loins.
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He makes priests walk barefoot, and overthrows the powers that are established.
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He strikes the cleverest speakers dumb, and robs old men of their discretion.
21
He pours contempt on the nobly born, and unties the girdle of the strong
22
He robs the depths of their darkness, brings deep shadow to the light.
23
He builds a nation up, then strikes it down, or makes a people grow, and then destroys it.
24
He strips a country’s leaders of their judgement, and leaves them to wander in a trackless waste,
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to grope about in unlit darkness, and totter like a man in liquor.
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