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1. Then Job answered and said,
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1.
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2. No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you
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2.
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3. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
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3.
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4. I am as one that is a laughing�stock to his neighbour, {cf15i a man} that called upon God, and he answered him: the just, the perfect man is a laughing�stock.
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4.
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5. In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for them whose foot slippeth.
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5.
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6. The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth {cf15i abundantly}.
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6.
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7. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
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7.
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8. Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
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8.
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9. Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of LORD hath wrought this?
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9.
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10. In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
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10.
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11. Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its meat?
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11.
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12. With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
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12.
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13. With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.
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13.
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14. Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
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14.
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15. Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
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15.
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16. With him is strength and effectual working; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
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16.
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17. He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools.
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17.
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18. He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
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18.
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19. He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
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19.
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20. He removeth the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the elders.
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20.
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21. He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
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21.
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22. He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
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22.
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23. He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth the nations abroad, and bringeth them in.
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23.
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24. He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
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24.
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25. They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
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25.
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