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That sound wisdom is manifold!

Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

 

⁷Canst thou find out the deep things of God?

Canst thou attain unto the purpose of the Almighty?

⁸It is high as heaven; what canst thou do?

Deeper than the nether-world; what canst thou know?

⁹The measure thereof is longer than the earth,

And broader than the sea.

¹⁰If He pass by, and shut up,

Or gather in, then who can hinder Him?

¹¹For He knoweth base men;

And when He seeth iniquity, will He not then consider it?

¹²But an empty man will get understanding,

When a wild ass's colt is born a man.

 

¹³If thou set thy heart aright,

And stretch out thy hands toward Him—

¹⁴If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away,

And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents—

¹⁵Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot;

Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear;

¹⁶For thou shalt forget thy misery;

Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away;

¹⁷And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday;

Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

¹⁸And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope;

Yea, thou shalt look about thee, and shalt take thy rest in safety.

¹⁹Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid;

Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

²⁰But the eyes of the wicked shall fail,

And they shall have no way to flee,

And their hope shall be the drooping of the soul.

12 Then Job answered and said:

²No doubt but ye are the people,

And wisdom shall die with you.

³But I have understanding as well as you;

I am not inferior to you;

Yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

⁴I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour,

A man that called upon God,

And He answered him; The just, the innocent man is a laughing-stock,

⁵A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease,

A thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.

⁶The tents of robbers prosper,

And they that provoke God are secure,

In whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.

 

⁷But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee;

And the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee;

⁸Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee;

And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;

⁹Who knoweth not among all these,

That the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

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