12:1 Then Job answered:
12:2 “Without a doubt you are the people,
and wisdom will die with you.
12:3 I also have understanding
I am not inferior to you.
Who does not know such things as these?
12:4 I am
I, who called on God and whom he answered
a righteous and blameless
is a laughingstock!
12:5 For calamity,
(according to the ideas of the fortunate
a fate
12:6 But
and those who provoke God are confident
who carry their god in their hands.
12:7 “But now, ask the animals and they
or the birds of the sky and they will tell you.
12:8 Or speak
or let the fish of the sea declare to you.
12:9 Which of all these
that the hand of the Lord
12:10 in whose hand
and the breath of all the human race.
12:11 Does not the ear test words,
as
12:12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?
Does not long life bring understanding?
12:13 “With God
counsel and understanding are his.
12:14 If
if he imprisons a person, there is no escape.
12:15 If he holds back the waters, then they dry up;
if he releases them,
12:16 With him are strength and prudence;
both the one who goes astray
and the one who misleads are his.
12:17 He
and makes judges
12:18 He loosens
and binds a loincloth
12:19 He leads priests away stripped
and overthrows
12:20 He deprives the trusted advisers
and takes away the discernment
12:21 He pours contempt on noblemen
and disarms
12:22 He reveals the deep things of darkness,
and brings deep shadows
12:23 He makes nations great,
he extends the boundaries of nations
and disperses
12:24 He deprives the leaders of the earth
of their understanding;
he makes them wander
in a trackless desert waste.
12:25 They grope about in darkness
he makes them stagger
13:1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this,
my ears have heard and understood it.
13:2 What you know,
I am not inferior
13:3 But I wish to speak
and I desire to argue
13:4 But you, however, are inventors of lies;
all of you are worthless physicians!
13:5 If only you would keep completely silent!
For you, that would be wisdom.
13:6 “Listen now to my argument,
and be attentive to my lips’ contentions.
13:7 Will you speak wickedly
Will you speak deceitfully for him?
13:8 Will you show him partiality?
Will you argue the case
13:9 Would it turn out well if he would examine
Or as one deceives
13:10 He would certainly rebuke
if you secretly
13:11 Would not his splendor
and the fear he inspires
13:12 Your maxims
your defenses
13:13 “Refrain from talking
then let come to me
13:14 Why
and take my life in my hands?
13:15 Even if he slays me, I will hope in him;
I will surely
13:16 Moreover, this will become my deliverance,
for no godless person would come before him.
13:17 Listen carefully
let your ears be attentive to my explanation.
13:18 See now,
I know that I am right.
13:19 Who
If anyone can, I will be silent and die.