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?

So then you [alone] are men, 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 also have a heart as well as you.

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.

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

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

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,

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

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

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, if they may speak to you; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With him are wisdom and power, with him 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.

If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?

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

If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

19 He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,

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

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

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

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

He pours dishonor upon princes, and heals the lowly.

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

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

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

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

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

Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, [saying],

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

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