3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? 4I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. 5He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
6The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. 7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: 8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 9Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? 10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. 11Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. 13With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. 14Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. 15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. 16With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. 17He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. 18He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. 19He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. 20He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. 21He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. 22He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. 23He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. 24He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. 25They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
Chapter 13
1Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. 2What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. 3Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. 4But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. 5O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. 6Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 7Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 8Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? 9Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? 10He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. 11Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? 12Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. 14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? 15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 16He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 17Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. 18Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. 19Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. 20Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee. 21Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid. 22Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. 24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? 25Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 26For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. 27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. 28And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
Chapter 14
1Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.