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12:1  Job’s reply:
12:2  “Yes, I realize you know everything! All wisdom will die with you!
12:3  Well, I know a few things myself—you are no better than I am. And who doesn’t know these things you’ve been saying?
12:4  I, the man who begged God for help, and God answered him, have become a laughingstock to my neighbors. Yes, I, a righteous man, am now the man they scoff at.
12:5  Meanwhile, the rich mock those in trouble and are quick to despise all those in need.
12:6  For robbers prosper. Go ahead and provoke God—it makes no difference! He will supply your every need anyway!
12:7  “Who doesn’t know that the Lord does things like that? Ask the dumbest beast—he knows that it is so; ask the birds—they will tell you; or let the earth teach you, or the fish of the sea.
12:8  “Who doesn’t know that the Lord does things like that? Ask the dumbest beast—he knows that it is so; ask the birds—they will tell you; or let the earth teach you, or the fish of the sea.
12:9  “Who doesn’t know that the Lord does things like that? Ask the dumbest beast—he knows that it is so; ask the birds—they will tell you; or let the earth teach you, or the fish of the sea.
12:10  For the soul of every living thing is in the hand of God, and the breath of all mankind.
12:11  Just as my mouth can taste good food, so my mind tastes truth when I hear it.
12:12  And as you say, older men like me are wise. They understand.
12:13  But true wisdom and power are God’s. He alone knows what we should do; he understands.
12:14  “And how great is his might! What he destroys can’t be rebuilt. When he closes in on a man, there is no escape.
12:15  He withholds the rain, and the earth becomes a desert; he sends the storms and floods the ground.
12:16  Yes, with him is strength and wisdom. Deceivers and deceived are both his slaves.
12:17  “He makes fools of counselors and judges.
12:18  He reduces kings to slaves and frees their servants.
12:19  Priests are led away as slaves. He overthrows the mighty.
12:20  He takes away the voice of orators and the insight of the elders.
12:21  He pours contempt upon princes and weakens the strong.
12:22  He floods the darkness with light, even the dark shadow of death.
12:23  He raises up a nation and then destroys it. He makes it great, and then reduces it to nothing.
12:24  He takes away the understanding of presidents and kings, and leaves them wandering, lost and groping, without a guiding light.
12:25  He takes away the understanding of presidents and kings, and leaves them wandering, lost and groping, without a guiding light.