Job 12
1 And Job made answer and said,
Giobbe allora rispose:
2 No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.
E' vero, sì, che voi siete la voce del popolo e la sapienza morirà con voi!
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?
Anch'io però ho senno come voi, e non sono da meno di voi; chi non sa cose simili?
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!
Ludibrio del suo amico è diventato chi grida a Dio perché gli risponda; ludibrio il giusto, l'integro!
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.
«Per la sventura, disprezzo», pensa la gente prosperosa, «spinte, a colui che ha il piede tremante».
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.
Le tende dei ladri sono tranquille, c'è sicurezza per chi provoca Dio, per chi vuol ridurre Dio in suo potere.
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;
Ma interroga pure le bestie, perché ti ammaestrino, gli uccelli del cielo, perché ti informino,
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.
o i rettili della terra, perché ti istruiscano o i pesci del mare perché te lo faccian sapere.
9 Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?
Chi non sa, fra tutti questi esseri, che la mano del Signore ha fatto questo?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.
Egli ha in mano l'anima di ogni vivente e il soffio d'ogni carne umana.
11 Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?
L'orecchio non distingue forse le parole e il palato non assapora i cibi?
12 Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.
Nei canuti sta la saggezza e nella vita lunga la prudenza.
13 With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.
In lui risiede la sapienza e la forza, a lui appartiene il consiglio e la prudenza!
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.
Ecco, se egli demolisce, non si può ricostruire, se imprigiona uno, non si può liberare.
15 Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.
Se trattiene le acque, tutto si secca, se le lascia andare, devastano la terra.
16 With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;
Da lui viene potenza e sagacia, a lui appartiene l'ingannato e l'ingannatore.
17 He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;
Rende stolti i consiglieri della terra, priva i giudici di senno;
18 He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;
scioglie la cintura dei re e cinge i loro fianchi d'una corda.
19 He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;
Fa andare scalzi i sacerdoti e rovescia i potenti.
20 He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;
Toglie la favella ai più veraci e priva del senno i vegliardi.
21 He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;
Sui nobili spande il disprezzo e allenta la cintura ai forti.
22 Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;
Strappa dalle tenebre i segreti e porta alla luce le cose oscure.
23 Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.
Fa grandi i popoli e li lascia perire, estende le nazioni e le abbandona.
24 He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.
Toglie il senno ai capi del paese e li fa vagare per solitudini senza strade,
25 They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.
vanno a tastoni per le tenebre, senza luce, e barcollano come ubriachi.
