The Message

<div class="version vid97 iso6393eng" data-vid="97" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkJOB">
      <div class="chapter ch12" data-usfm="JOB.12">
         <div class="label">12</div><div class="ms1"><span class="heading">Job Answers Zophar</span></div><div class="s2"><span class="heading">Put Your Ear to the Earth</span></div><div class="m"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1 v2 v3" data-usfm="JOB.12.1+JOB.12.2+JOB.12.3"><span class="label">1-3</span><span class="content">Job answered:</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1 v2 v3" data-usfm="JOB.12.1+JOB.12.2+JOB.12.3"><span class="content">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure you speak for all the experts,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1 v2 v3" data-usfm="JOB.12.1+JOB.12.2+JOB.12.3"><span class="content">and when you die there&#8217;ll be no one left to tell us how to live.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1 v2 v3" data-usfm="JOB.12.1+JOB.12.2+JOB.12.3"><span class="content">But don&#8217;t forget that I also have a brain&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1 v2 v3" data-usfm="JOB.12.1+JOB.12.2+JOB.12.3"><span class="content">I don&#8217;t intend to play second fiddle to you.</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1 v2 v3" data-usfm="JOB.12.1+JOB.12.2+JOB.12.3"><span class="content">It doesn&#8217;t take an expert to know these things.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1 v2 v3" data-usfm="JOB.12.1+JOB.12.2+JOB.12.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4 v5 v6" data-usfm="JOB.12.4+JOB.12.5+JOB.12.6"><span class="label">4-6</span><span class="content">&#8220;I&#8217;m ridiculed by my friends:</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4 v5 v6" data-usfm="JOB.12.4+JOB.12.5+JOB.12.6"><span class="content">&#8216;So that&#8217;s the man who had conversations with God!&#8217;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4 v5 v6" data-usfm="JOB.12.4+JOB.12.5+JOB.12.6"><span class="content">Ridiculed without mercy:</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4 v5 v6" data-usfm="JOB.12.4+JOB.12.5+JOB.12.6"><span class="content">&#8216;Look at the man who never did wrong!&#8217;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4 v5 v6" data-usfm="JOB.12.4+JOB.12.5+JOB.12.6"><span class="content">It&#8217;s easy for the well-to-do to point their fingers in blame,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4 v5 v6" data-usfm="JOB.12.4+JOB.12.5+JOB.12.6"><span class="content">for the well-fixed to pour scorn on the strugglers.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4 v5 v6" data-usfm="JOB.12.4+JOB.12.5+JOB.12.6"><span class="content">Crooks reside safely in high-security houses,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4 v5 v6" data-usfm="JOB.12.4+JOB.12.5+JOB.12.6"><span class="content">insolent blasphemers live in luxury;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4 v5 v6" data-usfm="JOB.12.4+JOB.12.5+JOB.12.6"><span class="content">they&#8217;ve bought and paid for a god who&#8217;ll protect them.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4 v5 v6" data-usfm="JOB.12.4+JOB.12.5+JOB.12.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="label">7-12</span><span class="content">&#8220;But ask the animals what they think&#8212;let them teach you;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">let the birds tell you what&#8217;s going on.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">Put your ear to the earth&#8212;learn the basics.</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">Listen&#8212;the fish in the ocean will tell you their stories.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">Isn&#8217;t it clear that they all know and agree</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">that </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">God</span></span><span class="content"> is sovereign, that he holds all things in his hand&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">Every living soul, yes,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">every breathing creature?</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">Isn&#8217;t this all just common sense,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">as common as the sense of taste?</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">Do you think the elderly have a corner on wisdom,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">that you have to grow old before you understand life?</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">From God We Learn How to Live</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v12" data-usfm="JOB.12.7+JOB.12.8+JOB.12.9+JOB.12.10+JOB.12.11+JOB.12.12"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="label">13-25</span><span class="content">&#8220;True wisdom and real power belong to God;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">from him we learn how to live,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">and also what to live for.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">If he tears something down, it&#8217;s down for good;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">if he locks people up, they&#8217;re locked up for good.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">If he holds back the rain, there&#8217;s a drought;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">if he lets it loose, there&#8217;s a flood.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">Strength and success belong to God;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">both deceived and deceiver must answer to him.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">He strips experts of their vaunted credentials,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">exposes judges as witless fools.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">He divests kings of their royal garments,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">then ties a rag around their waists.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">He strips priests of their robes,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">and fires high officials from their jobs.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">He forces trusted sages to keep silence,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">deprives elders of their good sense and wisdom.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">He dumps contempt on famous people,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">disarms the strong and mighty.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">He shines a spotlight into caves of darkness,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">hauls deepest darkness into the noonday sun.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">He makes nations rise and then fall,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">builds up some and abandons others.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">He robs world leaders of their reason,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">and sends them off into no-man&#8217;s-land.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">They grope in the dark without a clue,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13 v14 v15 v16 v17 v18 v19 v20 v21 v22 v23 v24 v25" data-usfm="JOB.12.13+JOB.12.14+JOB.12.15+JOB.12.16+JOB.12.17+JOB.12.18+JOB.12.19+JOB.12.20+JOB.12.21+JOB.12.22+JOB.12.23+JOB.12.24+JOB.12.25"><span class="content">lurching and staggering like drunks.&#8221;</span></span></div>
      </div>
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Job answered:

“I’m sure you speak for all the experts,
and when you die there’ll be no one left to tell us how to live.
But don’t forget that I also have a brain—
I don’t intend to play second fiddle to you.
It doesn’t take an expert to know these things.

“I’m ridiculed by my friends:
‘So that’s the man who had conversations with God!’
Ridiculed without mercy:
‘Look at the man who never did wrong!’
It’s easy for the well-to-do to point their fingers in blame,
for the well-fixed to pour scorn on the strugglers.
Crooks reside safely in high-security houses,
insolent blasphemers live in luxury;
they’ve bought and paid for a god who’ll protect them.

“But ask the animals what they think—let them teach you;
let the birds tell you what’s going on.
Put your ear to the earth—learn the basics.
Listen—the fish in the ocean will tell you their stories.
Isn’t it clear that they all know and agree
that GOD is sovereign, that he holds all things in his hand—
Every living soul, yes,
every breathing creature?
Isn’t this all just common sense,
as common as the sense of taste?
Do you think the elderly have a corner on wisdom,
that you have to grow old before you understand life?

“True wisdom and real power belong to God;
from him we learn how to live,
and also what to live for.
If he tears something down, it’s down for good;
if he locks people up, they’re locked up for good.
If he holds back the rain, there’s a drought;
if he lets it loose, there’s a flood.
Strength and success belong to God;
both deceived and deceiver must answer to him.
He strips experts of their vaunted credentials,
exposes judges as witless fools.
He divests kings of their royal garments,
then ties a rag around their waists.
He strips priests of their robes,
and fires high officials from their jobs.
He forces trusted sages to keep silence,
deprives elders of their good sense and wisdom.
He dumps contempt on famous people,
disarms the strong and mighty.
He shines a spotlight into caves of darkness,
hauls deepest darkness into the noonday sun.
He makes nations rise and then fall,
builds up some and abandons others.
He robs world leaders of their reason,
and sends them off into no-man’s-land.
They grope in the dark without a clue,
lurching and staggering like drunks.”

Listen to Job 12