Job 12-13

This was a man who had a grasp of who God was and what our position before Him is.  Take note.

Job 12 (English Standard Version)

Job 12

Job Replies: The LORD Has Done This

 1Then Job answered and said:
 2"No doubt you are the people,
   and wisdom will die with you.
3But I have^(A) understanding as well as you;
   I am not inferior to you.
   Who does not know^(B) such things as these?
4I am^(C) a laughingstock to my friends;
   I, who^(D) called to God and he answered me,
   a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.
5In the thought of one who is^(E) at ease there is contempt for misfortune;
   it is ready for those whose feet slip.
6^(F) The tents of robbers are at peace,
   and those who provoke God are secure,
   who bring their god in their hand.^[a]

 7"But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
   the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
8or the bushes of the earth,^[b] and they will teach you;
   and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
9Who among all these does not know
   that^(G) the hand of the LORD has done this?
10In^(H) his hand is the life of every living thing
   and the breath of all mankind.
11Does not^(I) the ear test words
   as the palate tastes food?
12Wisdom is with^(J) the aged,
   and understanding in length of days.

 13^(K) "With God^[c] are wisdom and might;
   he has counsel and understanding.
14If he tears down, none can rebuild;
   if he^(L) shuts a man in, none can open.
15If he^(M) withholds the waters, they dry up;
   if he^(N) sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
16With him are strength and^(O) sound wisdom;
   the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17He leads^(P) counselors away stripped,
   and^(Q) judges he makes fools.
18He^(R) looses the bonds of kings
   and binds a waistcloth on their hips.
19He leads priests away stripped
   and overthrows the mighty.
20He deprives of speech those who are trusted
   ^(S) and takes away the discernment of the elders.
21He^(T) pours contempt on princes
   and loosens the belt of the strong.
22He^(U) uncovers the deeps out of darkness
   and brings^(V) deep darkness to light.
23He^(W) makes nations great, and he destroys them;
   he enlarges nations, and^(X) leads them away.
24He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth
   and^(Y) makes them wander in a pathless waste.
25They^(Z) grope in the dark without light,
   and he makes them^(AA) stagger like a drunken man.

Job 13 (English Standard Version)

Job 13

Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God

 1"Behold, my eye has seen all this,
   my ear has heard and understood it.
2^(A) What you know, I also know;
   I am not inferior to you.
3^(B) But I would speak to the Almighty,
   and I desire to^(C) argue my case with God.
4As for you,^(D) you whitewash with lies;
   ^(E) worthless physicians are you all.
5Oh that you would^(F) keep silent,
   and it would be your wisdom!
6Hear now my argument
   and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7Will you^(G) speak falsely for God
   and speak deceitfully for him?
8Will you show partiality toward him?
   Will you^(H) plead the case for God?
9Will it be well with you when he^(I) searches you out?
   Or^(J) can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
10He will surely rebuke you
   if in secret you show partiality.
11Will not his^(K) majesty terrify you,
   and the dread of him fall upon you?
12Your maxims are proverbs of^(L) ashes;
   your defenses are defenses of clay.

 13"Let me have silence, and I will speak,
   and let come on me what may.
14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
   and^(M) put my life in my hand?
15^(N) Though he slay me, I will^(O) hope in him;^[a]
   yet I will^(P) argue my ways to his face.
16This will be my salvation,
   that the godless shall not come before him.
17^(Q) Keep listening to my words,
   and let my declaration be in your ears.
18Behold, I have^(R) prepared my case;
   I know that I shall be in the right.
19^(S) Who is there who will contend with me?
   For then I would be silent and die.
20Only grant me two things,
   then I will not^(T) hide myself from your face:
21^(U) withdraw your hand far from me,
   and let not^(V) dread of you terrify me.
22^(W) Then call, and I will answer;
   or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23How many are my iniquities and my sins?
   ^(X) Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24Why^(Y) do you hide your face
   and^(Z) count me as your enemy?
25Will you frighten^(AA) a driven leaf
   and pursue dry^(AB) chaff?
26For you^(AC) write bitter things against me
   and make me inherit^(AD) the iniquities of my youth.
27You put my feet in^(AE) the stocks
   and^(AF) watch all my paths;
   you set a limit for^[b] the soles of my feet.
28Man^[c] wastes away like^(AG) a rotten thing,
   like a garment that is^(AH) moth-eaten.