Job 12

1 And Job made answer and said,

And Job answered and said,

2 No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.

So then you [alone] are men, and wisdom shall die with you?

3 But I have a mind as well as you; I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?

[But] I also have a heart as well as you.

4 It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!

For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.

5 In the thought of him who is in comfort there is no respect for one who is in trouble; such is the fate of those whose feet are slipping.

For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be [held] guiltless,

6 There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe; even those whose god is their strength.

even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.

7 But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;

But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to you; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to you.

8 Or to the things which go flat on the earth, and they will give you wisdom; and the fishes of the sea will give you news of it.

Tell the earth, if it may speak to you: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to you.

9 Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?

Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.

Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.

11 Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?

For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.

12 Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.

In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.

13 With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.

With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.

14 Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him; when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.

If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?

15 Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.

If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.

16 With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;

With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.

17 He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;

He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.

18 He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;

He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.

19 He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;

He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.

20 He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;

He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.

21 He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;

He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.

22 Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;

Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.

23 Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.

Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].

24 He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.

Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, [saying],

25 They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.

Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.