Job 12

1 Then Job, answering, said:

And Job answers and says:

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

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

I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like 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 a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers him, A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

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

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

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

7 In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal 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 Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.

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

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

Who has not known in all these, That the hand of YHWH has done 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 breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19 He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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