Job 12

1 When Job answered, and said:

And Job answereth and saith: —

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

Truly — ye [are] the people, And with you doth wisdom 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 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.

A laughter to his friend I am: 'He calleth to God, and He answereth 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:

At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath 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, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.

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 sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:

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

'Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah 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 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?

Doth not the ear 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 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.

Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth 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.

Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth 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 counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.

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

The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.

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

Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.

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

Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.

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

Pouring contempt upon 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 bringeth 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 destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth 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 causeth 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 causeth them to wander as a drunkard.