Job 12
1 Then Job answered:
Then Job, answering, said:
2 “Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!
Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom die with you?
3 But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?
And I have a heart just as you also do, and I am not inferior to you. For who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
4 I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.
He who is mocked by his friends as I am, will call upon God, and he will listen to him because it is the sincerity of the just that is being mocked.
5 The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.
6 The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure— those who carry their god in their hands.
The tabernacles of robbers are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things into their hands.
7 But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.
Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.
9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?
10 The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.
11 Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?
Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?
12 Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.
In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.
13 Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.
14 What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
If he tears down, there is no one who can build up; if he encloses a man, there is no one who can open.
15 If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.
If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.
16 True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.
17 He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges.
He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.
18 He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists.
He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.
19 He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows the established.
He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,
20 He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.
altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.
21 He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
He pours disdain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.
He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.
23 He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.
24 He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.
25 They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.
They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.
