Job 12

1 And Job answered and said,

And Job answered and said,

2 Truly ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you!

No doubt but you 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: yes, who knows 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 mocked of his neighbor, who calls on God, and he answers him: the just upright 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.

He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

6 The tents of desolators are in peace, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth.

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings abundantly.

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 you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you:

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 you: and the fishes of the sea shall declare to you.

9 Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this?

Who knows not in all these that the hand of the LORD has worked 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?

Does not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

12 With the aged is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.

With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

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.

Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again: he shuts 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 withholds the waters, and they dry up: also he sends 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 wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools;

He leads counsellors away spoiled, and makes the judges fools.

18 He weakeneth the government of kings, and bindeth their loins with a fetter;

He looses the bond of kings, and girds their loins with a girdle.

19 He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty;

He leads princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty.

20 He depriveth of speech the trusty, and taketh away the judgment of the elders;

He removes away the speech of the trusty, and takes away the understanding of the aged.

21 He poureth contempt upon nobles, and slackeneth the girdle of the mighty;

He pours contempt on princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty.

22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out into light the shadow of death;

He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings 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 increases the nations, and destroys them: he enlarges the nations, and straitens them again.

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 takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes 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 makes them to stagger like a drunken man.