Job 12
1 And Job answered and said,
Then Job answered and said:
2 Truly ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you!
No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall 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?
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
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].
I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon God, and He answered him; the just, the innocent man is a laughing-stock,
5 He that is ready to stumble with the foot is a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.
6 The tents of desolators are in peace, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth.
The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.
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 fowls 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.
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;
9 Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this?
Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
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 breath of all mankind. —
11 Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food?
Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?
12 With the aged is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days? —
13 With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.
With Him is wisdom and might; 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.
Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; and he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Behold, He withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also He sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16 With him is strength and effectual knowledge; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools;
He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.
18 He weakeneth the government of kings, and bindeth their loins with a fetter;
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
19 He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty;
He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 He depriveth of speech the trusty, and taketh away the judgment of the elders;
He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.
21 He poureth contempt upon nobles, and slackeneth the girdle of the mighty;
He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out into light the shadow of death;
He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he spreadeth out the nations, and bringeth them in;
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.
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 taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunkard.
They grope in the dark without light, and He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
