Job 12–13

Job’s Reply to Zophar

12Then Job answered:

²No doubt you are the people,

and wisdom will die with you!

³But I also have a mind;

I am not inferior to you.

Who doesn’t know the things you are talking about? ^ij

⁴I am a laughingstock to my ^kfriends,

by calling on God, who answers me. ^l

The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock. ^m

⁵The one who is at ease ⁿholds calamity in contempt

and thinks it is prepared for those whose feet are slipping.

⁶The tents of robbers are safe, ^o

and those who provoke God are secure;

God’s power provides this. ^pq

⁷But ask the animals, and they will instruct you;

ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. ^r

⁸Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you;

let the fish of the sea inform you.

⁹Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this? ^s

¹⁰The life of every living thing is in His hand,

as well as the breath of all mankind. ^t

¹¹Doesn’t the ear test words

as the palate tastes food?

¹²Wisdom is found with the elderly,

and understanding comes with long life. ^u

¹³Wisdom and strength belong to God;

counsel and understanding are His. ^v

¹⁴Whatever He tears down cannot be rebuilt;

whoever He imprisons cannot be released. ^w

¹⁵When He withholds the waters, everything dries up,

and when He releases them, they destroy the land. ^x

¹⁶True wisdom and power belong to Him.

The deceived and the deceiver are His.

¹⁷He leads counselors away barefoot

and makes judges go mad. ^y

¹⁸He releases the bonds ^zput on by kings ^a

and fastens a belt around their waists.

¹⁹He leads priests away barefoot

and overthrows established leaders. ^b

²⁰He deprives trusted advisers of speech

and takes away the elders’ good judgment.

²¹He pours out contempt on nobles

and disarms ^cthe strong.

²²He reveals mysteries from the darkness

and brings the deepest darkness into the light. ^d

²³He makes nations great, then destroys them;

He enlarges nations, ^ethen leads them away.

²⁴He deprives the world’s leaders of reason,

and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland. ^f

²⁵They grope around in darkness without light;

He makes them stagger like drunken men. ^g

13Look, my eyes have seen all this;

my ears ^hhave heard and understood it.

²Everything you know, I also know;

I am not inferior to you. ⁱ

³Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty

and argue my case before God. ^j

⁴But you coat the truth with lies;

you are all worthless doctors. ^k

⁵If only you would shut up

and let that be your wisdom!

⁶Hear now my argument,

and listen to my defense. ^l

⁷Would you testify unjustly on God’s behalf

or speak deceitfully for Him?

⁸Would you show partiality ^mto Him

or argue the case in His defense?

⁹Would it go well if He examined you?

Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man? ⁿ

¹⁰Surely He would rebuke you

if you secretly showed partiality.

¹¹Would God’s majesty not terrify you? ^o

Would His dread not fall on you?

¹²Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ash; ^p

your defenses are made of clay.

¹³Be quiet, ^qand I will speak.

Let whatever comes happen to me.

¹⁴Why do I put myself at risk ^r

and take my life in my own hands?

¹⁵Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him. ^s

I will still defend ^tmy ways before Him.

¹⁶Yes, this will result in my deliverance,

for no godless person ^ucan appear before Him.

¹⁷Pay close attention to my words;

let my declaration ring in your ears.

¹⁸Now then, I have prepared my case; ^v

I know that I am right.

¹⁹Can anyone indict me?

If so, I will be silent and die.

²⁰Only grant these two things to me, God,

so that I will not have to hide from Your presence:

²¹remove Your hand from me,

and do not let Your terror frighten me. ^w

²²Then call, and I will answer, ^x

or I will speak, and You can respond to me.

²³How many iniquities ^yand sins have I committed? ^z

Reveal to me my transgression and sin.

²⁴Why do You hide Your face

and consider me Your enemy? ^a

²⁵Will You frighten a wind-driven leaf?

Will You chase after dry straw?

²⁶For You record bitter accusations against me

and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

²⁷You put my feet in the stocks

and stand watch over all my paths,

setting a limit for the soles ^bof my feet.

²⁸Man wears out like something rotten,

like a moth-eaten garment. ^c