Job 12
1 Then Job answered:
Job replied,
2 “Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!
“You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will die with you!
3 But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. 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 a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.
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 The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
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 are safe, and those who provoke God are secure— those who carry their god in their hands.
Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
7 But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
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 will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.
ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
10 The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
11 Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?
The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
12 Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.
Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
13 Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
14 What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
15 If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.
If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
16 True wisdom and power belong to Him. 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 barefoot and makes fools of judges.
He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
18 He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists.
He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
19 He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows the established.
He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
20 He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.
He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
21 He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.
He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
23 He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
24 He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
He removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
25 They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.
They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
