The Reading
Job 12
Then Job answered and said,
"Truly indeed you are the people,
and wisdom will die with you.
I also have insight like you;
I am not more inferior than you.
And who does not know things like these?
I am a laughingstock to my friends:
'He calls on God, and he answers him.'
A righteous, blameless man is a laughingstock.
Those at ease have contempt for the thought of disaster,
but it is ready for those unstable of foot.
The tents of the destroyers are at peace,
and there is security for those who provoke God,
for those whom God brings into his hand.
"But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
and the birds of the heaven, and they will tell you;
or ask the earth, and it will teach you,
and the fishes of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all of these does not know
that Yahweh's hand has done this?
In whose hand is the life of all living things
and the breath of every human being?
Does not the ear test words
and the palate taste food for itself?
Wisdom is with the aged,
and understanding is in length of days.
"With him are wisdom and powerful deeds,
and to him belong counsel and understanding.
If he tears down, then it will not be rebuilt;
if he shuts a man in, then he cannot be freed.
Look, if he withholds the water, then they dry up;
and if he sends them out, then they overwhelm the land.
"Strength and sound wisdom are with him;
the deceived and the deceiver are his.
He leads counselors away stripped,
and he makes fools of judges.
He loosens the fetters of kings,
and he binds a loincloth on their loins.
He leads priests away stripped,
and he overthrows the members of ancient families.
He deprives the trustworthy of speech,
and he takes away the discretion of elders.
He pours contempt on noblemen,
and he loosens the girdle of the mighty.
"He uncovers mysteries out of darkness,
and he brings deep shadow to the light.
He makes the nations great, then he destroys them;
he expands the nations, then he guides them.
He strips away the insight of the heads of the earth's people,
and he makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.
They grope in the dark without light,
and he makes them stagger like a drunkard.
Job 13
"Look, my eye has seen everything;
my ear has heard and has understood it.
What you know, I myself also know—
I am not more inferior than you.
But I would speak to Shaddai,
and I desire to argue with God.
"But you whitewash with lies;
all of you are worthless healers.
O that you would keep completely silent,
and that it would become wisdom for you.
Please hear my argument,
and listen attentively to the pleadings of my lips.
"Will you speak falsely for God?
And will you speak deceitfully for him?
Will you show partiality for him?
Or do you want to plead God's case?
Will it be well, if he examines you?
Or can you deceive him like deceiving a human being?
"Surely he will rebuke you
if you show partiality in secret.
Will not his majesty terrify you,
and his dread fall upon you?
Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
"Let me have silence, and I myself will speak,
and let come over me whatever may.
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
and put my life in my hand?
Look, though he kill me, I will hope in him;
however, I will defend my ways before him.
Moreover, this is salvation to me,
that the godless would not come before him.
"Listen carefully to my words,
and let my exposition be in your ears.
Please look, I have prepared my case;
I know that I myself will be vindicated.
Who is he who will contend with me?
For then I would be silent, and I would pass away.
"Only you must not do these two things to me;
then I will not hide from your face:
withdraw your hand from me,
and let not your dread terrify me.
Then call, and I myself will answer;
or let me speak, then reply to me.
"How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make known to me my transgression and my sin.