Job 12

1 Then Job, answering, said:

And Job answered and said,

2 Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom die with you?

No doubt but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

3 And I have a heart just as you also do, and I am not inferior to you. For who is ignorant of these things, which you know?

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yes, who knows not such things as these?

4 He who is mocked by his friends as I am, will call upon God, and he will listen to him because it is the sincerity of the just that is being mocked.

I am as one mocked of his neighbor, who calls on God, and he answers him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

5 The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.

He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

6 The tabernacles of robbers are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things into their hands.

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings abundantly.

7 In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you:

8 Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you: and the fishes of the sea shall declare to you.

9 Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?

Who knows not in all these that the hand of the LORD has worked this?

10 In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

11 Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?

Does not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

12 In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.

With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.

With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.

14 If he tears down, there is no one who can build up; if he encloses a man, there is no one who can open.

Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again: he shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.

15 If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.

Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up: also he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.

16 With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.

With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.

He leads counsellors away spoiled, and makes the judges fools.

18 He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.

He looses the bond of kings, and girds their loins with a girdle.

19 He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,

He leads princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty.

20 altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.

He removes away the speech of the trusty, and takes away the understanding of the aged.

21 He pours disdain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.

He pours contempt on princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty.

22 He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.

He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.

23 He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.

He increases the nations, and destroys them: he enlarges the nations, and straitens them again.

24 He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.

He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

25 They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.

They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.