The Book of Job

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Kapitel 12 -

Job answers his critics

And Job answers and says:

“Truly—you [are] the people, and wisdom dies with you.

I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, || And with whom is there not like these?

I am a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers him, || A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

A torch—despised in the thoughts of the secure || Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.

The tents of spoilers are at peace, || And those provoking God have confidence, || Into whose hand God has brought.

And yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, || And it shows you, || And a bird of the heavens, || And it declares to you.

Or talk to the earth, and it shows you, || And fishes of the sea recount to you:

Who has not known in all these, || That the hand of YHWH has done this?

In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, || And the spirit of all flesh of man.

Does the ear not try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

With the very aged [is] wisdom, || And [with] length of days [is] understanding.

With Him [are] wisdom and might, || To Him [are] counsel and understanding.

Behold, He breaks down, and it is not built up, || He shuts against a man, || And it is not opened.

Behold, He keeps in the waters, and they are dried up, || And He sends them forth, || And they overturn the land.

With Him [are] strength and wisdom, || His the deceived and deceiver.

Causing counselors to go away [as] a spoil, || Indeed, He makes fools of judges.

He has opened the bands of kings, || And He binds a girdle on their loins.

Causing ministers to go away [as] a spoil || And strong ones He overthrows.

Turning aside the lip of the steadfast, || And the reason of the aged He takes away.

Pouring contempt on princes, || And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.

Removing deep things out of darkness, || And He brings out to light death-shade.

Magnifying the nations, and He destroys them, || Spreading out the nations, and He quiets them.

Turning aside the heart || Of the heads of the people of the land, || And He causes them to wander || In vacancy—no way!

They feel darkness, and not light, || He causes them to wander as a drunkard.”

Job answers his critics

Then Job answered,

“No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?

I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.

In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.

The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.

“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.

Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you.

Who doesn’t know that in all these, the LORD’s hand has done this,

in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?

Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?

With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.

“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.

With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.

He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.

He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.

He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.

He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.

He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.

He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.

He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.