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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Job 12 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/job/12.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table 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id="topheading"><a href="../job/11.htm" title="Job 11">◄</a> Job 12 <a href="../job/13.htm" title="Job 13">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/job/12.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Job Responds to Zophar</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>In response Job replied:</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>“Truly, you are the people</p> <p class="poetry2">and wisdom will die with you!</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Like you, I also have understanding.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:3 Lit. my heart is like yours">a</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">I’m not inferior to you;</p> <p class="poetry2">who doesn’t know things<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:3 The Heb. lacks things">b</a></span> like this?”</p> <p class="heading">Job Has Become a Laughingstock</p><p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>“I’m a laughingstock to my friends,</p> <p class="poetry2">someone<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:4 The Heb. lacks someone">c</a></span> who called on God.</p> <p class="poetry2">But then he answered this upright and blameless man,</p> <p class="poetry2">and I have become<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:4 The Heb. lacks have become">d</a></span> a laughingstock.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>The carefree are thinking, ‘I have contempt for misfortune,’</p> <p class="reg">Those who are about to stumble deserve it.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>The tents of robbers are at rest,</p> <p class="poetry2">and those who provoke God are secure,</p> <p class="poetry2">that is, those who carry their god in their pocket.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:6 Lit. hand">e</a></span> </p> <p class="heading">Wisdom Can Be Found in God’s Creation</p><p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>“Ask the wild animals, and they’ll teach you;</p> <p class="poetry2">the birds of the sky will tell you.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Or ask the green plants of the earth and they’ll teach you;</p> <p class="poetry2">let the fish in the sea tell you.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Who among all of these doesn’t know</p> <p class="poetry2">that the LORD’s hand made them,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:9 Lit. this">f</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>and that the life of every living thing<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:10 Lit. all the living ">g</a></span> rests in his control,</p> <p class="poetry2">along with the breath of every living human being?</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>The ear scrutinizes speech</p> <p class="poetry2">just as the palate tastes food.”</p> <p class="heading">God is the All-Wise and All-Powerful Creator</p><p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>“Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged.</p> <p class="poetry2">Understanding comes<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:12 The Heb. lacks comes">h</a></span> with longevity.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>With God<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:13 Lit. him">i</a></span> is wisdom and strength;</p> <p class="poetry2">counsel and understanding belongs to him.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>When he tears down, nobody rebuilds;</p> <p class="poetry2">when<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:14 Lit. man">j</a></span> he incarcerates, nobody escapes.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>When he withholds water, rivers<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:15 Lit. they">k</a></span> dry up;</p> <p class="poetry2">when he lets them loose, they’ll flood<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:15 Lit. overthrow">l</a></span> the land.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>“With God<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:16 Lit. him">m</a></span> are strength and sound wisdom;</p> <p class="poetry2">both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:16 Or are his">n</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>He leads counselors away naked;</p> <p class="poetry2">he turns judges into fools.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>He strips away the authority of kings to punish</p> <p class="poetry2">and puts them in prison clothes instead.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>He leads away the priests naked</p> <p class="poetry2">and overthrows the ruling class.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:19 Lit. strong ones">o</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>He keeps reliable advisors from speaking,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:20 Lit. deprives the lips of advisors">p</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">and removes discernment from elders.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>He pours contempt on nobles</p> <p class="poetry2">and embarrasses<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:21 Lit. and loosens the belt of">q</a></span> the mighty.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness,</p> <p class="poetry2">bringing what is in deep shadow to light.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>He makes nations great, and then destroys them;</p> <p class="poetry2">he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:23 The Heb. lacks to captivity">r</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>He withdraws understanding<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:24 Lit. heart">s</a></span> from national leaders of the world,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:24 Or land">t</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">causing them to wander through uncharted<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:24 Or trackless">u</a></span> wilderness.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/12-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>They grope in the dark without light;</p> <p class="poetry2">he causes them to stagger around like a drunkard.”</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 12:3 Lit. <i>my heart is like yours</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 12:3 The Heb. lacks<i> things</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 12:4 The Heb. lacks<i> someone</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 12:4 The Heb. lacks <i>have become</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 12:6 Lit. <i>hand</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 12:9 Lit. <i>this</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 12:10 Lit. <i>all the living </i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 12:12 The Heb. lacks <i>comes</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 12:13 Lit. <i>him</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 12:14 Lit. <i>man</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 12:15 Lit. <i>they</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 12:15 Lit. <i>overthrow</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 12:16 Lit. <i>him</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 12:16 Or <i>are his</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 12:19 Lit. <i>strong ones</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 12:20 Lit. <i>deprives the lips of advisors</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 12:21 Lit. <i>and loosens the belt of</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 12:23 The Heb. lacks <i>to captivity</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 12:24 Lit. <i>heart</i><br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 12:24 Or <i>land</i><br /><span class="fnb">u</span> 12:24 Or <i>trackless</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../job/11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 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