| Chapter 12 |
1 | And Job answered and said,
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2 | No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
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3 | But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yes, who knoweth not such things as these?
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4 | I am as one mocked by his neighbor, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is derided.
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5 | He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
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6 | The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
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7 | But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
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8 | Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee.
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9 | Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
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10 | In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
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11 | Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste its food?
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12 | With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
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13 | With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
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14 | Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
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15 | Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
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16 | With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
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17 | He leadeth counselors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
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18 | He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
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19 | He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
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20 | He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
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21 | He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
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22 | He revealeth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth to light the shades of death.
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23 | He increaseth nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth nations, and straiteneth them again.
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24 | 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.
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25 | They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
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