Chapter 12

¹ And Job answered and said,

² So then ye alone are men, and wisdom shall die with you? ³ But I also have a heart as well as you. ⁴ For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery. ⁵ For it had been ordained that he should fall under others ¹at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be held guiltless, ⁶ even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition made of them.

⁷ But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to thee; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to thee. ⁸ Tell the earth, if it may speak to thee: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to thee. ⁹ Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them? ¹⁰ Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.

¹¹ For the ear tries words, and the ²palate tastes meats. ¹² In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge. ¹³ With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding. ¹⁴ If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open? ¹⁵ If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it. ¹⁶ With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding. ¹⁷ He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth. ¹⁸ He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle. ¹⁹ He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth. ²⁰ He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders. ²¹ He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly. ²² Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death. ²³ Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them away. ²⁴ Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, saying, ²⁵ Let them grope in darkness, and let there be no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.

Chapter 13

¹ Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard them. ² And I know all that ye too know; and I have not less understanding than you.

³ Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will. ⁴ But ye are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases. ⁵ But would that ye were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.

⁶ But hear ye the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgment of my lips. ⁷ Do ye not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him? ⁸ Or will ye draw back? nay do, ye yourselves be judges. ⁹ For it were well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things in your power ye should attach

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yourselves to him, ¹⁰ he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover ye should secretly respect persons, ¹¹ shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you? ¹² And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body like a body of clay.

¹³ Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from mine anger, ^{14 3}while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand. ¹⁵ Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him. ¹⁶ And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him. ¹⁷ Hear, hear ye my words, for I will declare in your hearing. ¹⁸ Behold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just. ¹⁹ For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and ⁴expire?

²⁰ But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from thy face. ²¹ Withhold thine hand from me: and let not thy fear terrify me. ²² Then shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: or thou shalt speak, and I will give thee an answer. ²³ How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.

²⁴ Wherefore hidest thou thyself from me, and deemest me thine enemy? ²⁵ Wilt thou be startled at me, as at a leaf shaken by the wind? or wilt thou set thyself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze? ²⁶ for thou hast written evil things against me, and thou hast compassed me with the sins of my youth. ²⁷ And thou hast placed my foot in the stocks; and thou hast watched all my works, and hast penetrated my heels. ²⁸ I am as that which waxes old like a ⁵bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.