New International Version NIV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Then Job replied:
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Iyov responded:
2 “Doubtless you are the only people who matter, and wisdom will 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 a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?
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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 have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God and he answered— a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!
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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 Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
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Those at ease have contempt for misfortune, for the blow that strikes somebody already staggering.
6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure— those God has in his hand.
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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 the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
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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 will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.
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or speak to the earth - it will teach you -and the fish in the sea will inform you:
9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
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every one of them knows that the hand of ADONAI has done this!
10 In his hand is the life of every creature 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 Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?
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Shouldn't the ear test words, just as the palate tastes food?
12 Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
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Is wisdom [only] with aged men? discernment [only] with long life?
13 “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.
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"With God are wisdom and power; he has [good] counsel and understanding.
14 What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; those he imprisons cannot be released.
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When he breaks something down, it can't be rebuilt; when he imprisons someone, he can't be released.
15 If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.
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When he holds back water, there is drought; when he sends it out, it overruns the land.
16 To him belong strength and insight; both deceived and 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 leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges.
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He leads counselors away captive, he makes fools of judges.
18 He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist.
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He removes authority from kings, then binds them up [as prisoners].
19 He leads priests away stripped and overthrows officials long established.
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He leads cohanim away captive and overthrows those long in power.
20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders.
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Those who are trusted he deprives of speech, and he removes the discernment of the aged.
21 He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
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He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.
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He discloses the deepest recesses of darkness and brings light into shadows dark as death.
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.
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He makes nations great and destroys them; he enlarges nations, then leads them away.
24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste.
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He removes understanding from a country's leaders and makes them wander in trackless deserts.
25 They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.
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They grope in unlit darkness; he makes them stagger like drunks.
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.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.