Jó 12
Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:
Også jeg har som I Forstand, står ikke tilbage for eder, hvo kender vel ikke sligt?
Til Latter for Venner er den, der råbte til Gud og fik Svar. den retfærdige er til Latter.
I Ulykke falder de fromme, den sorgløse spotter Faren, hans Fod står fast, mens Fristen varer.
I Fred er Voldsmænds Telte, og trygge er de, der vækker Guds Vrede, den, der fører Gud i sin Hånd.
Spørg dog Kvæget, det skal lære dig, Himlens Fugle, de skal oplyse dig,
se til Jorden, den skal lære dig lad Havets Fisk fortælle dig det!
Hvem blandt dem alle ved vel ikke, at HERRENs Hånd har skabt det;
han holder alt levendes Sjæl i sin Hånd, alt Menneskekødets Ånd!
Prøver ej Øret Ord, og smager ej Ganen Maden?
Er Alderdom eet med Visdom, Dagenes Række med Indsigt?
Hos ham er der Visdom og Vælde, hos ham er der Råd og Indsigt.
Hvad han river ned, det bygges ej op, den, han lukker inde, kommer ej ud;
han dæmmer for Vandet, og Tørke kommer, han slipper det løs, og det omvælter Jorden.
Hos ham er der Kraft og Fasthed; den, der farer og fører vild, er hans Værk.
Rådsherrer fører han nøgne bort, og Dommere gør han til Tåber;
han løser, hvad Konger bandt, og binder dem Reb om Lænd;
Præster fører han nøgne bort og styrter ældgamle Slægter;
han røver de dygtige Mælet og tager de gamles Sans;
han udøser Hån over Fyrster og løser de stærkes Bælte;
han drager det skjulte frem af Mørket og bringer Mulmet for Lyset,
gør Folkene store og lægger dem øde, udvider Folkeslags Grænser og fører dem atter bort;
han tager Jordens Høvdingers Vid og lader dem rave i vejløst Øde;
de famler i Mørke uden Lys og raver omkring som drukne.
And Job answered and said,
No doubt but ye {are} the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
But I have understanding as well as you; I {am} not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? {understanding: Heb. an heart} {I am...: Heb. I fall not lower than you} {who...: Heb. with whom are not such as these?}
I am {as} one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright {man is} laughed to scorn.
He that is ready to slip with {his} feet {is as} a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth {abundantly}.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
In whose hand {is} the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. {soul: or, life} {all...: Heb. all flesh of man}
Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? {mouth: Heb. palate}
With the ancient {is} wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
With him {is} wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. {With...: that is, With God}
Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. {up: Heb. upon}
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
With him {is} strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver {are} his.
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. {speech...: Heb. lip of the faithful}
He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. {weakeneth...: or, looseth the girdle of the strong}
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them {again}. {straiteneth: Heb. leadeth in}
He 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.
They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like {a} drunken {man}. {stagger: Heb. wander}