Job 12

1 And Job answered and said,

And Job answers and says:

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

“Truly—you [are] the people, and wisdom dies with you.

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

I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?

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

I am a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers him, A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

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,

A torch—despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.

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

The tents of spoilers are at peace, And those provoking God have confidence, Into whose hand God has brought.

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

And yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, And it shows you, And a bird of the heavens, And it declares to you.

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

Or talk to the earth, and it shows you, And fishes of the sea recount to you:

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

Who has not known in all these, That the hand of YHWH has done this?

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

In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.

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

Does the ear not try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

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

With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days [is] understanding.

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

With Him [are] wisdom and might, To Him [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 breaks down, and it is not built up, He shuts against a man, And it is not opened.

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 keeps in the waters, and they are dried up, And He sends them forth, And they overturn the land.

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

With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.

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

Causing counselors to go away [as] a spoil, Indeed, He makes fools of judges.

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

He has opened the bands of kings, And He binds a girdle on their loins.

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

Causing ministers to go away [as] a spoil And strong ones He overthrows.

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

Turning aside the lip of the steadfast, And the reason of the aged He takes away.

21 He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.

Pouring contempt on princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.

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

Removing deep things out of darkness, And He brings out to light death-shade.

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

Magnifying the nations, and He destroys them, Spreading out the nations, and He quiets 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],

Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And He causes them to wander In vacancy—no way!

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

They feel darkness, and not light, He causes them to wander as a drunkard.”