Job 12:1-25 VOICE

[1] In responding to his friends' collective accusation of his guilt, Job finally spoke. [2] Job (sarcastically to his friends): Surely, surely, my discerning friends, you are the ones! And when you pass away, the sum total of all wisdom will perish from the earth. [3] I have a mind as good as yours. Don't think I am so far beneath you! After all, who doesn't know all about these things? Who isn't acquainted with the pedestrian platitudes you've trotted out? [4] As for me-the one who called upon God and whom God answered- now, I am pitiful, laughable, a just and upright joke. [5] Those who have it easy may easily scorn the unfortunate; they have their contempt already prepared for those whose feet slip. [6] Ironically, there is peace inside the tents of the raiders, and those who upset God seem to live safe and secure; They carry their gods around in their hands. [7] However, call on the animals to teach you; the birds that sail through the air are not afraid to tell you the truth. [8] Engage the earth in conversation; it's happy to share what it knows. Even the fish of the sea are wise enough to explain it to you. [9] In fact, which part of creation isn't aware, which doesn't know the Eternal's hand has done this? [10] His hand cradles the life of every creature on the face of the earth; His breath fills the nostrils of humans everywhere. [11] Listen! Aren't we made to be discriminating: our ears testing wisdom, our mouths tasting food? [12] But you tell me, "With age comes wisdom, and a long life grants understanding." [13] With God is the sum total of all wisdom and of all power; His is the greatest of plans and the deepest of comprehensions. [14] So, then, what God tears down cannot be built back up; the man He shuts up cannot be released. [15] If God withholds the rains and stops the streams from flowing, the earth suffers drought; if He unleashes too much, the lands are ravaged by flood. [16] He is strong, and sound wisdom belongs to Him: whether one deceives or is deceived, he is under God's control. [17] He leads the counselors off as captives, barefoot and stripped; He makes a mockery of judges. [18] He strips off the royal sashes of kings and ties them at the waist, making them slaves as well. [19] He leads the priests away barefoot and defeats the long-incumbent men of power. [20] He robs trusted advisors of speech; He steals discretion from elders. [21] He heaps contempt on rulers, and loosens the bind of alliances among world powers. [22] Aspects of His deep wisdom that were hidden away, He shows in plain sight; darkness is brought into the light. [23] He builds the strength of nations, only to crush them- increases their population across the earth, only to scatter them again. [24] He divests each nation's leaders of understanding, and causes them to wander aimlessly with nowhere to go, [25] Until finally they grope in the dark, the light having departed, and He lets them stumble and stagger like drunks.