Knowledge of God’s Wisdom

7 “But now, ask the animals and they will teach you,

or the birds of the sky and they will tell you.

8  Or speak to the earth and it will teach you,

or let the fish of the sea declare to you.

9  Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

10  in whose hand is the life of every creature

and the breath of all the human race.

11  Does not the ear test words,

as the tongue tastes food?

12  Is not wisdom found among the aged?

Does not long life bring understanding?

13 “With God are wisdom and power;

counsel and understanding are his.

14  If he tears down, it cannot be rebuilt;

if he imprisons a person, there is no escape.

15  If he holds back the waters, then they dry up;

if he releases them, they destroy the land.

16  With him are strength and prudence;

both the one who goes astray

and the one who misleads are his.

17  He leads counselors away stripped

and makes judges into fools.

18  He loosens the bonds of kings

and binds a loincloth around their waist.

19  He leads priests away stripped

and overthrows the potentates.

20  He deprives the trusted advisers of speech

and takes away the discernment of elders.

21  He pours contempt on noblemen

and disarms the powerful.

22  He reveals the deep things of darkness,

and brings deep shadows into the light.

23  He makes nations great, and destroys them;

he extends the boundaries of nations

and disperses them.

24  He deprives the leaders of the earth

of their understanding;

he makes them wander

in a trackless desert waste.

25  They grope about in darkness without light;

he makes them stagger like drunkards.

13 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this,

my ears have heard and understood it.

2  What you know, I know also;

I am not inferior to you!

3  But I wish to speak to the Almighty,

and I desire to argue my case with God.

4  But you, however, are inventors of lies;

all of you are worthless physicians!

5  If only you would keep completely silent!

For you, that would be wisdom.

6 “Listen now to my argument,

and be attentive to my lips’ contentions.

7  Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?

Will you speak deceitfully for him?

8  Will you show him partiality?

Will you argue the case for God?

9  Would it turn out well if he would examine you?

Or as one deceives a man would you deceive him?

10  He would certainly rebuke you

if you secretly showed partiality!

11  Would not his splendor terrify you

and the fear he inspires fall on you?

12  Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;

your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 “Refrain from talking with me so that I may speak;

then let come to me what may.

14  Why do I put myself in peril,

and take my life in my hands?

15  Even if he slays me, I will hope in him;

I will surely defend my ways to his face!

16  Moreover, this will become my deliverance,

for no godless person would come before him.

17  Listen carefully to my words;

let your ears be attentive to my explanation.

18  See now, I have prepared my case;

I know that I am right.

19  Who will contend with me?

If anyone can, I will be silent and die.

20  Only in two things spare me, O God,

and then I will not hide from your face:

21  Remove your hand far from me

and stop making me afraid with your terror.

22  Then call, and I will answer,

or I will speak, and you respond to me.

23  How many are my iniquities and sins?

Show me my transgression and my sin.

24  Why do you hide your face

and regard me as your enemy?

25  Do you wish to torment a windblown leaf

and chase after dry chaff?

26  For you write down bitter things against me

and cause me to inherit the sins of my youth.

27  And you put my feet in the stocks

and you watch all my movements;

you put marks on the soles of my feet.

28  So I waste away like something rotten,

like a garment eaten by moths.

14 “Man, born of woman,

lives but a few days, and they are full of trouble.

2  He grows up like a flower and then withers away;

he flees like a shadow, and does not remain.

3  Do you fix your eye on such a one?

And do you bring me before you for judgment?

4  Who can make a clean thing come from an unclean?

No one!

5  Since man’s days are determined,

the number of his months is under your control;

you have set his limit and he cannot pass it.

6  Look away from him and let him desist,

until he fulfills his time like a hired man.