Job’s Fourth Speech

12  Then[fn] Job answered and said,

• 2 [fn] are the people, and wisdom will die with you.[fn]
• 3 [fn] like you;[fn] I am not more inferior than you.[fn]
• And[fn]
• 4 [fn] ‘ He calls on God, and he answers him.’
• A righteous, blameless man is a laughingstock.
• 5 [fn] for the thought of[fn] but it is ready for those unstable of foot.
• 6 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.[fn]
• 7 [fn] ask[fn] the animals, and they will teach you, and the birds of the heaven, and they will tell you;
• 8  and the fishes of the sea will declare to you.
• 9  that Yahweh’s hand has done this?
• 10 is the life of all living things and[fn]
• 11 the ear test words and the palate taste food for itself?
• 12 is with the aged, and understanding is in length of days.
• 13 are wisdom and powerful deeds, and to him belong counsel and understanding.
• 14 [fn] it will not be rebuilt; if he shuts a man in, then[fn] he cannot be freed.
• 15 if he withholds the water,[fn] then[fn] they dry up; and if he sends them out, then[fn] they overwhelm the land.
• 16 are with him; the deceived and the deceiver are his.[fn]
• 17 and he makes fools of judges.
• 18 the fetters of kings, and he binds a loincloth on their loins.
• 19  and he overthrows[fn]
• 20 the trustworthy of speech, and he takes away the discretion of elders.
• 21  and he loosens the girdle of the mighty.
• 22  and he brings deep shadow to the light.
• 23 [fn] he destroys them; he expands the nations, then[fn] he guides them.
• 24 away the insight of the heads of the earth’s people, and he makes them wander in[fn]
• 25 in the dark[fn] light, and he makes them stagger like a[fn] drunkard.