Part 365

12:18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.

12:19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

12:20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

12:21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

12:22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

12:23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

12:24 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.

12:25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

13:1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

13:2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

13:3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

13:4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

13:5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

13:6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

13:7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 13:8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? 13:9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? 13:10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

13:11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? 13:12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13:13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

13:14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

13:16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

13:17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

13:18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

13:19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

13:20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

13:21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

13:22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

13:23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

13:24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? 13:25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 13:26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

13:27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.