Job 12
1 Then Job answered and said,
Job replied,
2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
“You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will die with you!
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who does not know such things as these?
But I too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
4 I am as a man who is a laughing-stock to his neighbor. I who called upon God, and he answered. The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
But my friends laugh at me because I called on God and he answered me: the innocent man who does right has become an object of derision.
5 In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for calamity. It is ready for those whose foot slips.
People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure. Into whose hand God brings abundantly.
Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee.
But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee.
ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
9 Who does not know in all these, that the hand of Jehovah has wrought this,
Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
10 in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
11 Does not the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
12 With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
13 With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
14 Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again. He shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.
If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
15 Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
16 With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
17 He leads counselors away stripped, and he makes judges fools.
He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
18 He loosens the bond of kings, and he binds their loins with a belt.
He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
19 He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
20 He removes the speech of the trustworthy, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
21 He pours contempt upon rulers, and weakens the strength of the strong.
He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
23 He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
He removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.
They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
