Job 12
1 And Job answered and said,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 So then you [alone] are men, and wisdom shall die with you?
Truly ye are indeed the [right kind of] people, and with you wisdom must die out.
3 [But] I also have a heart as well as you.
I also have sense like you; I do not fall short compared with you: and who possesseth not such things as these?
4 For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.
I am as one laughed at by his friend, who calleth upon God, while he answered him: [yea, ] a laughing-stock though righteous and innocent.
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,
To the unfortunate there is given contempt— according to the thoughts of him that is at ease— prepared [also] for those whose foot slippeth.
6 even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.
Prosperous are the tents of robbers, and security is given to those that provoke God. to him who carrieth his god in his hand.
7 But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to you; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to you.
Yet, do only ask of the beasts, and they will instruct thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they will tell it thee;
8 Tell the earth, if it may speak to you: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to you.
Or speak to the earth, and she will instruct thee; and the fishes of the sea will inform thee
9 Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?
Who knoweth not through all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
10 Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.
[He] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the bodies of men?
11 For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.
Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food for itself?
12 In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.
So It with the ancients wisdom, and with [those of] length of days understanding,
13 With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.
That with him are wisdom and strength, his are 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 pulleth down, and there can be no rebuilding: he locketh [the prison] upon 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 restraineth the waters, and they dry up; or he suffereth them to flow, and they overturn the earth.
16 With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.
With him are strength and counsel: his are the deceived and the deceiver.
17 He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.
He leadeth counsellors away bereft of sense, 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 bindeth a girdle around their loins.
19 He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.
He leadeth priests away bereft of sense, and the powerful he causeth to walk on crooked paths.
20 He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.
He removeth the speech from trusty speakers, and taketh away the intelligence of the aged.
21 He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and the belt of the mighty be looseneth.
22 Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.
He layeth open deep things from the midst of darkness, and bringeth out unto light the shadow of death.
23 Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].
He permitteth the nations to become great, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth out the nations, and leadeth them away.
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 sense of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander astray in a wilderness when 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 causeth them to wander astray like a drunken man.
