Job 12
1 When Job answered, and said:
Then responded Job, and said: —
2 Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you?
Of a truth, ye, are the people, and, with you, wisdom, will die.
3 I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
I also, have a mind like you, I, fall not short, of you, But who hath 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.
A laughing-stock to one’s neighbour, do I become, one who hath called upon GOD and he hath answered him! A laughing-stock—a righteous man without blame!
5 The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.
For ruin, there is contempt, in the thought of the man at ease, —ready, for such as are of faltering foot!
6 The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:
At peace are the tents that belong to the spoilers, and there is security to them who provoke GOD, To him who bringeth a god in his hand.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.
But, in very deed, ask, I pray thee, the beasts, and they will teach thee, and the bird of the heavens, and it will tell thee;
8 Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.
Or address the earth, and it will teach thee, and the fishes of the sea, will recount it to 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 Yahweh, hath 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 soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the flesh of men.
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 for itself, food?
12 In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.
In the Ancient, is wisdom, and [in] Length of Days, understanding:
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
With Him, are wisdom and strength, to Him, pertain 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 cannot be built, He closeth up over a man, and it cannot be opened:
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 holdeth back the waters, and they dry up, or sendeth them out, and they transform the earth:
16 With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.
With Him, is strength and effective wisdom, to Him, belong he that erreth, and he that causeth to err.
17 He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.
Who leadeth away counsellors [as] a spoil, and, judges, He befooleth:
18 He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.
The fetters of kings, He looseth, or hath bound a slave’s waistcloth about their loins:
19 He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.
Who leadeth away priests [as] a spoil, and, men firmly seated, He overturneth:
20 He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.
Setting aside the speech of the trusty, and, the discernment of elders, He taketh away:
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.
Pouring contempt upon nobles, and, the girdle of the mighty, hath He loosed:
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.
Laying open deep things, out of darkness, and bringing out to light, the death-shade:
23 He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.
Who giveth greatness to nations, or destroyeth them, Who spreadeth out nations, or leadeth them into exile:
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.
Who taketh away the sense of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and hath caused them to wander in a pathless waste:
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 about in the dark, having no light, and He hath made them to reel, like a drunken man.
