Job 12
1 Job replied,
And Job made answer and said,
2 “You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will die with you!
No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.
3 But I too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
But I have a mind as well as you; I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?
4 But my friends laugh at me because I called on God and he answered me: the innocent man who does right has become an object of derision.
It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!
5 People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
In the thought of him who is in comfort there is no respect for one who is in trouble; such is the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6 Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe; even those whose god is their strength.
7 But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;
8 ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
Or to the things which go flat on the earth, and they will give you wisdom; and the fishes of the sea will give you news of it.
9 Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.
11 The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?
12 Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.
13 God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.
14 If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him; when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.
15 If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.
16 He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;
17 He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;
18 He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;
19 He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;
20 He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;
21 He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;
22 He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;
23 He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.
24 He removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.
25 They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.
