Job 12
1 Then Job answered:
When Job answered, and said:
2 “Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!
Are you then men alone, and shall 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?
I also have a heart as well as 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 that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.
5 The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.
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 abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:
7 But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.
Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.
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 hath made all these things?
10 The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.
11 Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?
Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?
12 Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.
In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.
13 Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
14 What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
If he pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a. man, there is none that can open.
15 If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.
If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.
16 True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.
17 He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges.
He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.
18 He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists.
He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.
19 He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows the established.
He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.
20 He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.
He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.
21 He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.
23 He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.
24 He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
He changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way.
25 They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.
They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.
