1 And Job answered and said, 2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. 3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? 4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. 5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. 7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: 8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? 10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. 11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. 13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. 14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. 15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. 16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. 17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. 18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. 19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. 20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. 21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. 22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. 23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. 24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. 25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
1 约伯回答说：
2 "你们真的是有知识的民， 你们死了， 智慧也跟你们一同灭亡。
3 但我也有聪明像你们一样， 我并非不及你们， 像你们所说的这些事， 有谁不晓得呢？
4 我这求告 神， 又蒙他应允的， 竟成为朋友的笑柄， 公义完全的人竟成为笑柄，
5 平静的人心中藐视灾祸， 作将滑跌者的分。
6 强盗的帐幕兴旺， 惹 神发怒的安稳， 神的手赏赐他们。
7 你且问走兽， 走兽必指教你， 又问空中的飞鸟， 飞鸟必告诉你；
8 或向地说话， 地必指教你， 海中的鱼也必向你说明。
9 从这一切看来， 谁不知道， 是耶和华的手作成这事的呢？
10 活物的生命与全人类的气息， 都在耶和华的手中。
11 耳朵不是试验说话， 好像上膛尝试食物吗？
12 你们说： 老年的有智慧， 长寿的有聪明。
13 他有智慧与能力， 又有谋略与聪明。
14 他所拆毁的， 就不能重建， 他所囚禁的， 就不能释放。
15 他若把水阻截， 水就干涸， 他再把水放出， 水就使地翻倒。
16 他有大能与智谋， 受骗的与骗人的， 都是属他的。
17 他把谋士剥衣掳去， 并且愚弄审判官。
18 他解开了君王绑人的绳索， 又用腰布捆绑君王的腰。
19 他把祭司剥衣掳去， 倾覆有权有势的人。
20 他除掉忠信人的言论， 又除去老年人的辨别力。
21 他把羞辱倾倒在王子上， 又松开壮士的腰带。
22 他从黑暗中彰显奥秘， 把死荫领进光中。
23 他使邦国兴盛， 又毁灭他们， 扩张邦国， 又把他们掳去。
24 他除掉地上人民中首领的悟性， 使他们在无路的荒野之地飘流。
25 他们在黑暗无光中摸索， 他使他们飘泊无定像醉汉一样。"