JOB 12 "JOB ANSWERS HIS CRITICS"
recorded for your spiritual enrichment by vanderKOK
12:1 Job Answers His Critics
Then Job answered and said:
2 "No doubt you are the people,And wisdom will die with you! 3 But I have understanding as well as you;I am not inferior to you.Indeed, who does not know such things as these?
4 "I am one mocked by his friends,Who called on God, and He answered him,The just and blameless who is ridiculed. 5 A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease;It is made ready for those whose feet slip. 6 The tents of robbers prosper,And those who provoke God are secure — In what God provides by His hand.
7 "But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; 8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;And the fish of the sea will explain to you. 9 Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this, 10 In whose hand is the life of every living thing,And the breath of all mankind? 11 Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food? 12 Wisdom is with aged men,And with length of days, understanding.
13 "With Him are wisdom and strength,He has counsel and understanding. 14 If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt;If He imprisons a man, there can be no release. 15 If He withholds the waters, they dry up;If He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth. 16 With Him are strength and prudence.The deceived and the deceiver are His. 17 He leads counselors away plundered,And makes fools of the judges. 18 He loosens the bonds of kings,And binds their waist with a belt. 19 He leads princes away plundered,And overthrows the mighty. 20 He deprives the trusted ones of speech,And takes away the discernment of the elders. 21 He pours contempt on princes,And disarms the mighty. 22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness,And brings the shadow of death to light. 23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;He enlarges nations, and guides them. 24 He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness. 25 They grope in the dark without light,And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
NKJV
JOB 13 "JOB DEFENDS HIMSELF; JOB's DESPONDENT PRAYER" by vanderKOK
JOB 13 "JOB DEFENDS HIMSELF; JOB's DESPONDENT PRAYER"
recorded for your spiritual enrichment by vanderKOK
13:1 Job Defends Himself
"Behold, my eye has seen all this,My ear has heard and understood it. 2 What you know, I also know;I am not inferior to you. 3 But I would speak to the Almighty,And I desire to reason with God. 4 But you forgers of lies,You are all worthless physicians. 5 Oh, that you would be silent,And it would be your wisdom! 6 Now hear my reasoning,And heed the pleadings of my lips. 7 Will you speak wickedly for God,And talk deceitfully for Him? 8 Will you show partiality for Him?Will you contend for God? 9 Will it be well when He searches you out?Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man? 10 He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality. 11 Will not His excellence make you afraid,And the dread of Him fall upon you? 12 Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 "Hold your peace with me, and let me speak,Then let come on me what may! 14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth,And put my life in my hands? 15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. 16 He also shall be my salvation,For a hypocrite could not come before Him. 17 Listen carefully to my speech,And to my declaration with your ears. 18 See now, I have prepared my case,I know that I shall be vindicated. 19 Who is he who will contend with me?If now I hold my tongue, I perish.
20 Job's Despondent Prayer
"Only two things do not do to me,Then I will not hide myself from You: 21 Withdraw Your hand far from me,And let not the dread of You make me afraid. 22 Then call, and I will answer;Or let me speak, then You respond to me. 23 How many are my iniquities and sins?Make me know my transgression and my sin. 24 Why do You hide Your face,And regard me as Your enemy? 25 Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?And will You pursue dry stubble? 26 For You write bitter things against me,And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. 27 You put my feet in the stocks,And watch closely all my paths.You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
28 "Man decays like a rotten thing,Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
NKJV
