Job 11-12

Christian Standard Bible

⁷ Can you fathom the depths of God
or discover the limits of the Almighty?^(E)
8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?^(F)
9 Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.

¹⁰ If he passes by and throws someone in prison
or convenes a court, who can stop him?^(G)
11 Surely he knows which people are worthless.
If he sees iniquity, will he not take note of it?^(H)
12 But a stupid person will gain understanding
as soon as a wild donkey is born a human!

¹³ As for you, if you redirect your heart
and spread out your hands to him in prayer—
¹⁴ if there is iniquity in your hand, remove it,
and don’t allow injustice to dwell in your tents—
¹⁵ then you will hold your head high, free from fault.
You will be firmly established and unafraid.^(I)
16 For you will forget your suffering,
recalling it only as water that has flowed by.
¹⁷ Your life will be brighter than noonday;
its darkness^[b] will be like the morning.^(J)
18 You will be confident, because there is hope.^(K)
You will look carefully about and lie down in safety.^(L)

¹⁹ You will lie down with no one to frighten you,
and many will seek your favor.^(M)
20 But the sight of the wicked^(N) will fail.
Their way of escape will be cut off,
and their only hope is their last breath.^(O)

⁴ I am a laughingstock to my^[d] friends,
by calling on God, who answers me.^[e]
The righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock.^(Q)
5 The one who is at ease^(R) holds calamity in contempt
and thinks it is prepared for those whose feet are slipping.
⁶ The tents of robbers are safe,^(S)
and those who trouble God are secure;
God holds them in his hands.^[f](T)

⁷ But ask the animals, and they will instruct you;
ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.^(U)
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you;
let the fish of the sea inform you.
⁹ Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?^(V)
10 The life of every living thing is in his hand,
as well as the breath of all humanity.^(W)
11 Doesn’t the ear test words
as the palate tastes food?
¹² Wisdom is found with the elderly,
and understanding comes with long life.^(X)

¹³ Wisdom and strength belong to God;
counsel and understanding are his.^(Y)
14 Whatever he tears down cannot be rebuilt;
whoever he imprisons cannot be released.^(Z)
15 When he withholds water, everything dries up,
and when he releases it, it destroys the land.^(AA)
16 True wisdom and power belong to him.
The deceived and the deceiver are his.
¹⁷ He leads counselors away barefoot
and makes judges go mad.^(AB)
18 He releases the bonds^[g] put on by kings^(AC)
and fastens a belt around their waists.
¹⁹ He leads priests away barefoot
and overthrows established leaders.^(AD)
20 He deprives trusted advisers of speech
and takes away the elders’ good judgment.
²¹ He pours out contempt on nobles
and disarms^[h] the strong.
²² He reveals mysteries from the darkness
and brings the deepest darkness into the light.^(AE)
23 He makes nations great, then destroys them;
he enlarges nations,^(AF) then leads them away.
²⁴ He deprives the world’s leaders of reason,
and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.^(AG)
25 They grope around in darkness without light;
he makes them stagger like a drunkard.^(AH)