Job 12

1 When Job answered, and said:

And Job answers and says:

2 Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you?

“Truly—you [are] the people, and wisdom dies with you.

3 I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know?

I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like 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 a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers him, A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

5 The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.

A torch—despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.

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 spoilers are at peace, And those provoking God have confidence, Into whose hand God has brought.

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.

And yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, And it shows you, And a bird of the heavens, And it declares to you.

8 Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.

Or talk to the earth, and it shows you, And fishes of the sea recount to you:

9 Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?

Who has not known in all these, That the hand of YHWH has done 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 breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.

11 Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?

Does the ear not try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

12 In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.

With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days [is] understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

With Him [are] wisdom and might, To Him [are] 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 breaks down, and it is not built up, He shuts against a man, And it is not opened.

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 keeps in the waters, and they are dried up, And He sends them forth, And they overturn the land.

16 With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.

With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.

17 He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.

Causing counselors to go away [as] a spoil, Indeed, He makes fools of judges.

18 He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.

He has opened the bands of kings, And He binds a girdle on their loins.

19 He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.

Causing ministers to go away [as] a spoil And strong ones He overthrows.

20 He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.

Turning aside the lip of the steadfast, And the reason of the aged He takes away.

21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.

Pouring contempt on princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.

22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.

Removing deep things out of darkness, And He brings out to light death-shade.

23 He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.

Magnifying the nations, and He destroys them, Spreading out the nations, and He quiets them.

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.

Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And He causes them to wander In vacancy—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 feel darkness, and not light, He causes them to wander as a drunkard.”