King James Version KJV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 And Job answered and said,
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Iyov responded:
2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
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"No doubt you are [the only] people [that matter]; and when you die, so will wisdom.
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
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But I too have a brain, as much as you, In no way am I inferior to you. Besides, who doesn't know things like these?
4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
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"Anyone who calls on God, and he answers him, becomes a laughingstock to his friends -they make fun of an innocent, blameless man.
5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
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Those at ease have contempt for misfortune, for the blow that strikes somebody already staggering.
6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
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The tents of robbers prosper, [the homes of] those who anger God are secure, those who carry their gods in their hands.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
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"But ask the animals - they will teach you -and the birds in the air - they will tell you;
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
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or speak to the earth - it will teach you -and the fish in the sea will inform you:
9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
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every one of them knows that the hand of ADONAI has done this!
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
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In his hand is the life of every living thing and the spirit of every human being.
11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
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Shouldn't the ear test words, just as the palate tastes food?
12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
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Is wisdom [only] with aged men? discernment [only] with long life?
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
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"With God are wisdom and power; he has [good] counsel and understanding.
14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
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When he breaks something down, it can't be rebuilt; when he imprisons someone, he can't be released.
15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
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When he holds back water, there is drought; when he sends it out, it overruns the land.
16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
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With him are strength and common sense; both the misled and those who mislead are his.
17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
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He leads counselors away captive, he makes fools of judges.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
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He removes authority from kings, then binds them up [as prisoners].
19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
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He leads cohanim away captive and overthrows those long in power.
20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
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Those who are trusted he deprives of speech, and he removes the discernment of the aged.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
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He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
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He discloses the deepest recesses of darkness and brings light into shadows dark as death.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
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He makes nations great and destroys them; he enlarges nations, then leads them away.
24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
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He removes understanding from a country's leaders and makes them wander in trackless deserts.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
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They grope in unlit darkness; he makes them stagger like drunks.