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 ye are the whole people! And wisdom will 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 become a laughing-stock to my friend, —I who call upon God, that he would answer me! The innocent and upright man is held in derision.
5 The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.
To calamity belongeth contempt in the mind of one at ease; It is ready for them that slip 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 robbers are in prosperity, And they who provoke God are secure, Who carry their God in their hand.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.
For ask now the beasts, and they will teach thee; Or the fowls of the air, and they will 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 will instruct thee; And the fishes of the sea will declare unto thee.
9 Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?
Who among all these doth not know That the hand of Jehovah doeth 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 breath of all mankind.
11 Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?
Doth not the ear prove words, As the mouth tasteth meat?
12 In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.
With the 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 strength; With Him 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.
Lo! he pulleth down, and it shall not be rebuilt; He bindeth a man, and he shall not be set loose.
15 If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.
Lo! he withholdeth the waters, and they are dried up; He sendeth them forth, and they lay waste the earth.
16 With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.
With him are strength and wisdom; The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.
He leadeth counsellors away captive, And judges he maketh fools.
18 He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.
He looseth the authority of kings, And bindeth their loins with a cord.
19 He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.
He leadeth priests away captive, And overthroweth the mighty.
20 He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.
He removeth speech from the trusty, And taketh away judgment from the elders.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.
He poureth contempt upon princes, And looseth the girdle of the mighty.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.
He revealeth deep things out of darkness, And bringeth the shadow of death to light.
23 He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.
He exalteth nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth nations, and leadeth them captive.
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 understanding of the great men of the land, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness, where is no path;
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; He maketh them stagger like a drunken man.
