1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42
12 <1> Then Job answered them:
<2> "I'm sure you think you are
the only wise people left.
You think that when you die,
wisdom will be gone with you.
<3> But my mind is as good as yours.
You aren't any smarter than I am.
You haven't said anything
that people don't already know.
<4> "My friends laugh at me now.
They say,
'He prayed to God and got his answer.'
"I am a good man.
I am innocent,
but still they laugh at me.
<5> Those who have no troubles
make fun of those who do.
They hit a man when he is down.
<6> But robbers' tents are not bothered.
Those who make God angry live in peace,
even though God has them in his power.
<7> "But ask the animals,
they will teach you.
Or ask the birds of the air,
they will tell you.
<8> Or speak to the earth,
it will teach you.
Or let the fish in the sea
tell you their wisdom.
<9> Everyone knows the Lord made these things.
<10> Every animal that lives,
and everyone who breathes,
is under God's power.
<11> But just as the tongue tastes food,
the ears test the words they hear.
<12> [People say,]
'Wisdom is to be found in old people.
Long life brings understanding.'
<13> But wisdom and power belong to God.
Good advice and understanding are his.
<14> Anything God tears down cannot be rebuilt again.
Anyone he puts in prison cannot be set free.
<15> If God holds back the rain, the earth will dry up.
If he lets the rain loose, it will flood the earth.
<16> God is strong and always wins.
He controls those who fool others and those who are fooled.
<17> God strips advisors of their wisdom
and makes leaders act like fools.
<18> He strips kings of their authority
and makes them slaves.
<19> He strips priests of their power
and removes those who feel so secure in their position.
<20> God makes the trusted advisors be silent.
He takes away the wisdom of old people.
<21> He makes leaders unimportant.
He takes power away from rulers.
<22> God exposes even the darkest secrets.
He sends light into places that are as dark as death.
<23> God makes nations big and powerful,
and then he destroys them.
He makes nations grow large,
then he scatters their people.
<24> He makes leaders foolish.
He makes them wander aimlessly through the desert.
<25> They are like someone
feeling their way in the dark.
They are like drunks
who don't know where they are going.
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.