King James Bible | International Standard Version |
1And Job answered and said, | 1In response Job replied: |
2No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. | 2"Truly, you are the people and wisdom will die with you! |
3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? | 3Like you, I also have understanding. I'm not inferior to you; who doesn't know things like this?" |
4I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. | 4"I'm a laughingstock to my friends, someone who called on God. But then he answered this upright and blameless man, and I have become a laughingstock. |
5He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. | 5The carefree are thinking, 'I have contempt for misfortune,' Those who are about to stumble deserve it. |
6The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. | 6The tents of robbers are at rest, and those who provoke God are secure, that is, those who carry their god in their pocket. |
7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: | 7"Ask the wild animals, and they'll teach you; the birds of the sky will tell you. |
8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. | 8Or ask the green plants of the earth and they'll teach you; let the fish in the sea tell you. |
9Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? | 9Who among all of these doesn't know that the LORD's hand made them, |
10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. | 10and that the life of every living thing rests in his control, along with the breath of every living human being? |
11Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? | 11The ear scrutinizes speech just as the palate tastes food." |
12With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. | 12"Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity. |
13With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. | 13With God is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him. |
14Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. | 14When he tears down, nobody rebuilds; when he incarcerates, nobody escapes. |
15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. | 15When he withholds water, rivers dry up; when he lets them loose, they'll flood the land. |
16With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. | 16"With God are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him. |
17He leadeth counsellers away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. | 17He leads counselors away naked; he turns judges into fools. |
18He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. | 18He strips away the authority of kings to punish and puts them in prison clothes instead. |
19He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. | 19He leads away the priests naked and overthrows the ruling class. |
20He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. | 20He keeps reliable advisors from speaking, and removes discernment from elders. |
21He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. | 21He pours contempt on nobles and embarrasses the mighty. |
22He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. | 22He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light. |
23He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. | 23He makes nations great, and then destroys them; he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity. |
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. | 24He withdraws understanding from national leaders of the world, causing them to wander through uncharted wilderness. |
25They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. | 25They grope in the dark without light; he causes them to stagger around like a drunkard." |
King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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