New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 Then Job answered:
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Then Job replied:
2 "You really think you are the only wise people and that when you die, wisdom will die with you!
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“Doubtless you are the only people who matter, and wisdom will die with you!
3 But my mind is as good as yours; you are not better than I am. Everyone knows all these things.
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But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?
4 My friends all laugh at me when I call on God and expect him to answer me; they laugh at me even though I am right and innocent!
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“I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God and he answered— a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!
5 Those who are comfortable don't care that others have trouble; they think it right that those people should have troubles.
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Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6 The tents of robbers are not bothered, and those who make God angry are safe. They have their god in their pocket.
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The tents of marauders are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure— those God has in his hand.
7 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
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“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 Speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea tell you.
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or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Every one of these knows that the hand of the Lord has done this.
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Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
10 The life of every creature and the breath of all people are in God's hand.
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In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
11 The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.
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Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?
12 Older people are wise, and long life brings understanding.
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Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
13 "But only God has wisdom and power, good advice and understanding.
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“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.
14 What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; anyone he puts in prison cannot be let out.
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What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; those he imprisons cannot be released.
15 If God holds back the waters, there is no rain; if he lets the waters go, they flood the land.
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If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.
16 He is strong and victorious; both the one who fools others and the one who is fooled belong to him.
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To him belong strength and insight; both deceived and deceiver are his.
17 God leads the wise away as captives and turns judges into fools.
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He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges.
18 He takes off chains that kings put on and puts a garment on their bodies.
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He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist.
19 He leads priests away naked and destroys the powerful.
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He leads priests away stripped and overthrows officials long established.
20 He makes trusted people be silent and takes away the wisdom of older leaders.
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He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders.
21 He brings disgrace on important people and takes away the weapons of the strong.
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He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
22 He uncovers the deep things of darkness and brings dark shadows into the light.
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He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.
23 He makes nations great and then destroys them; he makes nations large and then scatters them.
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He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.
24 He takes understanding away from the leaders of the earth and makes them wander through a pathless desert.
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He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste.
25 They feel around in darkness with no light; he makes them stumble like drunks.
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They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.