Job 12
1 And Job answered and said,
When Job answered, and said:
2 Truly ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you!
Are you then men alone, and shall 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?
I also have a heart as well as 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 that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.
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 despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.
6 The tents of desolators are in peace, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth.
The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all 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;
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.
9 Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this?
Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.
11 Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food?
Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?
12 With the aged is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.
13 With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath 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 pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a. man, there is none that can open.
15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; and he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.
16 With him is strength and effectual knowledge; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.
17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools;
He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.
18 He weakeneth the government of kings, and bindeth their loins with a fetter;
He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.
19 He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty;
He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.
20 He depriveth of speech the trusty, and taketh away the judgment of the elders;
He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.
21 He poureth contempt upon nobles, and slackeneth the girdle of the mighty;
He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out into light the shadow of death;
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he spreadeth out the nations, and bringeth them in;
He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.
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 changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunkard.
They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.
