1

And Job made answer and said,

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No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.

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But I have a mind as well as you I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?

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It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!

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In the thought of him who is in comfort there is no respect for one who is in trouble such is the fate of those whose feet are slipping.

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There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe even those whose god is their strength.

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But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you

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Or to the things which go flat on the earth, and they will give you wisdom and the fishes of the sea will give you news of it.

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Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?

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In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.

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Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?

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Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.

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With him there is wisdom and strength power and knowledge are his.

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Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.

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Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry he sends them out and the earth is overturned.

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With him are strength and wise designs he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands

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He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish

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He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them

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He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions

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He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old

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He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong

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Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright

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Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.

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He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.

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They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.