Job 12
1 And Job answered and said,
And Job answered and said,
2 So then ye [alone] are men, and wisdom shall die with you?
No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3 [But] I also have a heart as well as you.
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4 For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.
I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon Eloah, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
5 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,
He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
6 even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke El are secure; into whose hand Eloah bringeth abundantly.
7 But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to thee; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to thee.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
8 Tell the earth, if it may speak to thee: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to thee.
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9 Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?
Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of YHWH hath wrought this?
10 Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
11 For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.
Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12 In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.
With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
13 With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
14 If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?
Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16 With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.
With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.
He leadeth counsellers away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
18 He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.
He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
19 He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.
He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.
He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
21 He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
22 Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23 Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
24 Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, [saying],
He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25 Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.
They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
