Job Presents His Case

1And Job answered and said,

2“Truly it is that you⁺ are the people,

and wisdom will die with you⁺.

3Also unto me is a heart like you⁺;

I am not falling below you⁺.

And with whom are not things like these?

4I have become a laughingstock to his neighbor,

one calling on God and He answered him,

righteous and blameless—a laughingstock.

5There is contempt for disaster in the thought of the secure,

prepared for those slipping of foot.

6The tents of robbers are at rest,

and those disturbing God are secure—

to the one who carries his god in his hand.†

7But ask now the beasts, and they will instruct you,

and the birds of the heavens, and one will declare to you.

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

and the fish of the sea and they will recount to you.

9Who among all these does not know

that the hand of YHWH has done this—

10in whose hand is the soul of every living thing,

and the breath of all the flesh of man?

11Does not the ear examine words,

and the mouth taste food for itself?

12With the aged is wisdom,

and in length of days is understanding.

13With Him are wisdom and strength;

unto Him are counsel and understanding.

14Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt;

He closes up upon a man, and it cannot be opened.

15Behold, He restrains the waters and they dry up,

and He sends them forth and they overthrow the land.

16With Him are strength and wisdom

and unto Him are the deceived and the deceiver.

17He leads away counselors barefoot,

and judges He makes foolish.

18The bond of kings He loosens,

and He binds a waistband around their loins.

19He leads away priests barefoot,

and the established He overthrows.

20He deprives the lip of the trusted ones,

and the discernment of the elders He takes away.

21He pours out contempt on nobles,

and the mighty He makes feeble.

22He uncovers deep things out of darkness,

and brings to light the shadow of death.

23He makes great nations, and destroys them;

He enlarges nations and guides them away.

24He turns aside the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,

and makes them wander in a wilderness without a path.

25They feel about in darkness without light,

and He makes them stagger like a drunkard.