Job 12
1 When Job answered, and said:
Then Job answered and said:
2 Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you?
No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3 I also have a heart as well as 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; yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4 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.
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 The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.
A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.
6 The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:
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 birds of the air, 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 Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;
9 Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?
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 discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?
Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?
12 In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.
Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days? —
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
With Him is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.
14 If he pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a. man, there is none that can open.
Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall 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 wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.
With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.
He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.
18 He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
19 He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.
He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.
He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.
He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23 He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.
24 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.
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 shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.
They grope in the dark without light, and He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
