Job 11-12

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

² “Should a multitude of words go unanswered,
    and should one full of talk be vindicated?^(A)
3 Should your babble put others to silence,
    and when you mock, shall no one shame you?^(B)
4 For you say, ‘My conduct^[a] is pure,
    and I am clean in God’s^[b] sight.’^(C)
5 But O that God would speak
    and open his lips to you
⁶ and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
    For wisdom is many-sided.^[c]
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.^(D)

⁷ “Can you find out the deep things of God?
    Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?^[d](E)
8 It is higher than heaven^[e]—what can you do?
    Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?^(F)
9 Its measure is longer than the earth
    and broader than the sea.
¹⁰ If he passes through and imprisons
    and assembles for judgment, who can hinder him?^(G)
11 For he knows those who are worthless;
    when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?^(H)
12 But the stupid will get understanding
    when a wild ass is born human.^[f]

¹³ “If you direct your heart rightly,
    you will stretch out your hands toward him.^(I)
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
    and do not let wickedness reside in your tents.^(J)
15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;
    you will be secure and will not fear.^(K)
16 You will forget your misery;
    you will remember it as waters that have passed away.^(L)
17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday;
    its darkness will be like the morning.^(M)
18 And you will have confidence because there is hope;
    you will be protected^[g] and take your rest in safety.^(N)
19 You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid;
    many will entreat your favor.
²⁰ But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
    all way of escape will be lost to them,
    and their hope is to breathe their last.”^(O)

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.
    Who does not know such things as these?
⁴ I am a laughingstock to my friends;
    I, who called upon God and he answered me,
    a just and blameless man, I am a laughingstock.^(P)
5 Those at ease have contempt for misfortune,^[h]
    but it is ready for those whose feet are unstable.^(Q)
6 The tents of robbers are at peace,
    and those who provoke God are secure,
    who bring their god in their hands.^[i](R)

⁷ “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
⁸ ask the plants of the earth,^[j] and they will teach you,
    and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
⁹ Who among all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?^(S)
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing
    and the breath of every human being.^(T)
11 Does not the ear test words
    as the palate tastes food?^(U)
12 Is wisdom with the aged
    and understanding in length of days?^(V)

¹³ “With God^[k] are wisdom and strength;
    he has counsel and understanding.^(W)
14 If he tears down, no one can rebuild;
    if he shuts someone in, no one can open up.^(X)
15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
    if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.^(Y)
16 With him are strength and wisdom;
    the deceived and the deceiver are his.^(Z)
17 He leads counselors away stripped
    and makes fools of judges.^(AA)
18 He looses the sash of kings
    and binds a waistcloth on their loins.^(AB)
19 He leads priests away stripped
    and overthrows the mighty.
²⁰ He deprives of speech those who are trusted
    and takes away the discernment of the elders.^(AC)
21 He pours contempt on princes
    and looses the belt of the strong.^(AD)
22 He uncovers deep things from the darkness
    and brings deep darkness to light.^(AE)
23 He makes nations great, then destroys them;
    he enlarges nations, then leads them away.^(AF)
24 He strips understanding from the leaders^[l] of the earth
    and makes them wander in a pathless waste.^(AG)
25 They grope in the dark without light;
    he makes them stagger like a drunkard.^(AH)