Job 12
1 Then Job, answering, said:
Then Job answered and said,
2 Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom die with you?
“No doubt you are the people; wisdom will 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. Indeed, who does not know 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 something for my neighbor to laugh at— I, one who called on God and who was answered by him! I, a just and blameless man—I am now something to laugh at.
5 The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.
In the thought of someone who is at ease, there is contempt for misfortune; he thinks in a way that brings more misfortune to those whose foot is slipping.
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 robbers prosper, and those who provoke God feel secure; their own hands are their gods.
7 In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.
But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the heavens, and they will 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 will teach you; the fish of the sea will declare to you.
9 Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?
Which animal among all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?
10 In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.
In his hand is the life 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 test words just as the palate tastes its food?
12 In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.
With aged men is wisdom; in length of days is understanding.
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.
With God are wisdom and might; 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.
See, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again; if he imprisons someone, there can be no release.
15 If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.
See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; and if he sends them out, they overwhelm 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; people who are deceived and the deceiver are both in his power.
17 He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.
He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow; he turns judges into fools.
18 He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.
He takes off the chain of authority from kings; he wraps a cloth about their waists.
19 He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,
He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow and overthrows mighty people.
20 altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.
He removes the speech of those who had been trusted and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21 He pours disdain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.
He pours contempt upon princes and unfastens the belt of strong people.
22 He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.
He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
23 He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.
He makes nations strong, and he also destroys them; He enlarges nations, and he also leads them along as prisoners.
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 understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth; he causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.
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; he makes them stagger like a drunk man.
