Job 12
1 And Job answered and said,
Job replied,
2 So then you [alone] are men, and wisdom shall die with you?
“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 heart as well as you.
But I too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
4 For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.
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 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,
People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
6 even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.
Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
7 But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to you; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to you.
But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
8 Tell the earth, if it may speak to you: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to you.
ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
9 Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?
Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
10 Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.
He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
11 For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.
The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
12 In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.
Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
13 With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.
God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
14 If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?
If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
15 If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.
If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
16 With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.
He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
17 He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.
He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
18 He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.
He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
19 He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.
He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
20 He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.
He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
21 He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.
He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
22 Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.
He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
23 Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].
He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
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 removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
25 Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.
They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
