Hiob 12 | New International Reader’s Version

Job’s reply

1 Job replied, 2 ‘You people think you are the only ones who matter! You are sure that wisdom will die with you! 3 But I have a brain, just like you. I’m as clever as you are. In fact, everyone knows as much as you do. 4 ‘My friends laugh at me all the time, even though I called out to God and he answered. My friends laugh at me, even though I’m honest and right. 5 People who have an easy life look down on those who have problems. They think trouble comes only to those whose feet are slipping. 6 Why doesn’t anyone bother the tents of robbers? Why do those who make God angry remain secure? They are in God’s hands! 7 ‘But ask the animals what God does. They will teach you. Or ask the birds in the sky. They will tell you. 8 Or speak to the earth. It will teach you. Or let the fish in the ocean educate you. 9 Are there any of these creatures that don’t know what the powerful hand of the LORD has done? 10 He holds the life of every creature in his hand. He controls the breath of every human being. 11 Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn’t. And our ears tell us what’s true and what isn’t. 12 Old people are wise. Those who live a long time have understanding. 13 ‘Wisdom and power belong to God. Advice and understanding also belong to him. 14 What he tears down can’t be rebuilt. The people he puts in prison can’t be set free. 15 If he holds back the water, everything dries up. If he lets the water loose, it floods the land. 16 Strength and understanding belong to him. Those who tell lies and those who believe them also belong to him. 17 He removes the wisdom of rulers and leads them away. He makes judges look foolish. 18 He sets people free from the chains that kings put on them. Then he dresses the kings in the clothes of slaves. 19 He removes the authority of priests and leads them away. He removes from their positions officials who have been in control for a long time. 20 He shuts the mouths of trusted advisers. He takes away the understanding of elders. 21 He looks down on proud leaders. He takes away the strength of those who are mighty. 22 He tells people the secrets of darkness. He brings total darkness out into the light. 23 He makes nations great, and then he destroys them. He makes nations grow, and then he scatters them. 24 He takes away the understanding of the leaders of the earth. He makes them wander in a desert where no one lives. 25 Without any light, they feel their way along in darkness. God makes them unsteady like those who get drunk.

English Standard Version

Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This

1 Then Job answered and said: 2 “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. 3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these? 4 I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. 5 In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip. 6 The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.* 7 “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; 8 or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;* and the fish of the sea will declare to you. 9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? 10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. 11 Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food? 12 Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. 13 “With God* are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. 14 If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open. 15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. 16 With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. 17 He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools. 18 He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips. 19 He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty. 20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders. 21 He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong. 22 He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. 23 He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. 24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. 25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Hiob 12 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

Job’s reply

Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This