Job 12
1 And Job answered and said,
Then Job, answering, said:
2 Truly ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you!
Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom die with you?
3 I also have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; and who knoweth not such things as these?
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?
4 I am to be one that is a derision to his friend, I who call upon God, and whom he will answer: a derision is the just upright [man].
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.
5 He that is ready to stumble with the foot is a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.
6 The tents of desolators are in peace, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth.
The tabernacles of robbers are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things into their hands.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowl of the heavens, and they shall tell thee;
In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.
9 Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this?
Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.
In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.
11 Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food?
Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?
12 With the aged is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.
13 With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.
14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it is not built again; he shutteth up a man, and there is no opening.
If he tears down, there is no one who can build up; if he encloses a man, there is no one who can open.
15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; and he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.
16 With him is strength and effectual knowledge; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.
17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools;
He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.
18 He weakeneth the government of kings, and bindeth their loins with a fetter;
He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.
19 He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty;
He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,
20 He depriveth of speech the trusty, and taketh away the judgment of the elders;
altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.
21 He poureth contempt upon nobles, and slackeneth the girdle of the mighty;
He pours disdain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out into light the shadow of death;
He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he spreadeth out the nations, and bringeth them in;
He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.
24 He taketh away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a pathless waste.
He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunkard.
They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.
