Job: This Is YHWH’s Doing

Job 12

Then Job answered,

“No doubt, but y’all are the people, and wisdom will die with y’all. But I have understanding as well as y’all; I am not inferior to y’all. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these? I am a joke to my friends, I called on God, and ʜᴇ answered. The righteous and blameless person is a joke. In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips. The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.

 

“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you. Who doesn’t know that in all these, YHWH’s hand has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all humanity? Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food? Wisdom is with the aged ones, in length of days understanding.

 

“With God is wisdom and might. Hᴇ has counsel and understanding. Hᴇ breaks down, and it can’t be built again. Those ʜᴇ imprisons cannot be released. See how ʜᴇ withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, ʜᴇ sends them out, and they overturn the earth. With ʜɪᴍ is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his. Hᴇ leads counselors away stripped. Hᴇ makes judges into fools. Hᴇ loosens the bond of kings. Hᴇ binds their waist with a belt. Hᴇ leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty. Hᴇ removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders. Hᴇ pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong. Hᴇ uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death. Hᴇ increases the nations, and ʜᴇ destroys them. Hᴇ enlarges the nations, and ʜᴇ leads them captive. Hᴇ takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.