Job Answers His Critics
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 “No doubt youarethe people,
And wisdom will die with you!
3 But I have understanding as well as you;
# Iamnotinferior to you.
Indeed, who does notknowsuch things as these?
4 “Iam one mocked by his friends,
# Whocalled on God, and He answered him,
The just and blamelesswhoisridiculed.
5 A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease;
# Itismade ready forthose whose feet slip.
6 The tents of robbers prosper,
And those who provoke God are secure—
In what God provides by His hand.
7 “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
9 Who among all these does not know
That the hand of theLordhas done this,
10 In whose handisthe life of every living thing,
# And thebreath of all mankind?
11 Does not the ear test words
And the mouth taste its food?
12 Wisdomiswith aged men,
And with length of days, understanding.
13 “With Himarewisdom and strength,
He has counsel and understanding.
14 IfHe breaksathingdown, it cannot be rebuilt;
IfHe imprisons a man, there can be no release.
15 If Hewithholds the waters, they dry up;
# IfHesends them out, they overwhelm the earth.
16 With Himarestrength and prudence.
The deceived and the deceiverareHis.
17 He leads counselors away plundered,
And makes fools of the judges.
18 He loosens the bonds of kings,
And binds their waist with a belt.
19 He leads princes away plundered,
And overthrows the mighty.
20 He deprives the trusted ones of speech,
And takes away the discernment of the elders.
21 He pours contempt on princes,
And disarms the mighty.
22 Heuncovers deep things out of darkness,
And brings the shadow of death to light.
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;
He enlarges nations, and guides them.
24 He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,
# Andmakes them wander in a pathless wilderness.
25 They grope in the dark without light,
# And He makes themstagger like a drunkenman.