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1. Then Job answered them:
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1. And Job H347 answered H6030 and said H559 ,
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2. "I'm sure you think you are the only wise people left. You think that when you die, wisdom will be gone with you.
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2. No doubt H551 but H3588 ye H859 are the people H5971 , and wisdom H2451 shall die H4191 with H5973 you.
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3. But my mind is as good as yours. You aren't any smarter than I am. You haven't said anything that people don't already know.
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3. But H1571 I have understanding H3824 as well as you H3644 ; I H595 am not H3808 inferior H5307 to H4480 you: yea H854 , who H4310 knoweth not H369 such things as these H3644 H428 ?
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4. "My friends laugh at me now. They say, 'He prayed to God and got his answer.' I am a good man; I am innocent, but still they laugh at me.
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4. I am H1961 as one mocked H7814 of his neighbor H7453 , who calleth H7121 upon God H433 , and he answereth H6030 him : the just H6662 upright H8549 man is laughed to scorn H7814 .
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5. Those who have no troubles make fun of those who do. They hit a man when he is down.
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5. He that is ready H3559 to slip H4571 with his feet H7272 is as a lamp H3940 despised H937 in the thought H6248 of him that is at ease H7600 .
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6. But robbers' tents are not bothered. Those who make God angry live in peace, even though God has them in his power.
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6. The tabernacles H168 of robbers H7703 prosper H7951 , and they that provoke H7264 God H410 are secure H987 ; into whose H834 hand H3027 God H433 bringeth H935 abundantly .
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7. "But ask the animals, and they will teach you. Or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
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7. But H199 ask H7592 now H4994 the beasts H929 , and they shall teach H3384 thee ; and the fowls H5775 of the air H8064 , and they shall tell H5046 thee:
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8. Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. Or let the fish in the sea tell you their wisdom.
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8. Or H176 speak H7878 to the earth H776 , and it shall teach H3384 thee : and the fishes H1709 of the sea H3220 shall declare H5608 unto thee.
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9. Everyone knows the Lord made these things.
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9. Who H4310 knoweth H3045 not H3808 in all H3605 these H428 that H3588 the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 hath wrought H6213 this H2063 ?
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10. Every animal that lives and everyone who breathes� they are all under God's power.
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10. In whose H834 hand H3027 is the soul H5315 of every H3605 living thing H2416 , and the breath H7307 of all H3605 mankind H1320 H376 .
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11. But just as the tongue tastes food, the ears test the words they hear.
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11. Doth not H3808 the ear H241 try H974 words H4405 ? and the mouth H2441 taste H2938 his meat H400 ?
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12. People say, 'Wisdom is to be found in those who are old. Long life brings understanding.'
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12. With the ancient H3453 is wisdom H2451 ; and in length H753 of days H3117 understanding H8394 .
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13. But wisdom and power belong to God. Good advice and understanding are his.
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13. With H5973 him is wisdom H2451 and strength H1369 , he hath counsel H6098 and understanding H8394 .
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14. Anything God tears down cannot be rebuilt. Anyone he puts in prison cannot be set free.
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14. Behold H2005 , he breaketh down H2040 , and it cannot H3808 be built again H1129 : he shutteth up H5462 H5921 a man H376 , and there can be no opening H6605 H3808 .
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15. If he holds back the rain, the earth will dry up. If he lets the rain loose, it will flood the land.
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15. Behold H2005 , he withholdeth H6113 the waters H4325 , and they dry up H3001 : also he sendeth them out H7971 , and they overturn H2015 the earth H776 .
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16. God is strong and always wins. He controls those who fool others and those who are fooled.
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16. With H5973 him is strength H5797 and wisdom H8454 : the deceived H7683 and the deceiver H7686 are his.
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17. He strips advisors of their wisdom and makes leaders act like fools.
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17. He leadeth H1980 counselors H3289 away spoiled H7758 , and maketh the judges H8199 fools H1984 .
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18. He strips kings of their authority and makes them slaves.
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18. He looseth H6605 the bond H4148 of kings H4428 , and girdeth H631 their loins H4975 with a girdle H232 .
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19. He strips priests of their power and removes those who feel so secure in their position.
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19. He leadeth H1980 princes H3548 away spoiled H7758 , and overthroweth H5557 the mighty H386 .
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20. He makes trusted advisors be silent. He takes away the wisdom of the older leaders.
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20. He removeth away H5493 the speech H8193 of the trusty H539 , and taketh away H3947 the understanding H2940 of the aged H2205 .
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21. He brings disgrace to important people. He takes power away from rulers.
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21. He poureth H8210 contempt H937 upon H5921 princes H5081 , and weakeneth H7503 the strength H4206 of the mighty H650 .
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22. He exposes even the darkest secrets. He sends light into places that are as dark as death.
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22. He discovereth H1540 deep things H6013 out of H4480 darkness H2822 , and bringeth out H3318 to light H216 the shadow of death H6757 .
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23. God makes nations great, and then he destroys them. He makes nations grow large, and then he scatters their people.
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23. He increaseth H7679 the nations H1471 , and destroyeth H6 them : he enlargeth H7849 the nations H1471 , and straiteneth H5148 them again .
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24. He makes their leaders foolish. He makes them wander around in the desert.
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24. He taketh away H5493 the heart H3820 of the chief H7218 of the people H5971 of the earth H776 , and causeth them to wander H8582 in a wilderness H8414 where there is no H3808 way H1870 .
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25. They are like someone feeling their way in the dark. They are like drunks who don't know where they are going.
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25. They grope H4959 in the dark H2822 without H3808 light H216 , and he maketh them to stagger H8582 like a drunken H7910 man .
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