Job 12
1 Job replied,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will die with you!
Truly ye are indeed the [right kind of] people, and with you wisdom must die out.
3 But I too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
I also have sense like you; I do not fall short compared with you: and who possesseth not 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.
I am as one laughed at by his friend, who calleth upon God, while he answered him: [yea, ] a laughing-stock though righteous and innocent.
5 People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
To the unfortunate there is given contempt— according to the thoughts of him that is at ease— prepared [also] for those whose foot slippeth.
6 Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
Prosperous are the tents of robbers, and security is given to those that provoke God. to him who carrieth his god in his hand.
7 But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
Yet, do only ask of the beasts, and they will instruct thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they will tell it thee;
8 ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
Or speak to the earth, and she will instruct thee; and the fishes of the sea will inform thee
9 Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
Who knoweth not through all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
10 He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
[He] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the bodies of men?
11 The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food for itself?
12 Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
So It with the ancients wisdom, and with [those of] length of days understanding,
13 God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
That with him are wisdom and strength, his are counsel and understanding.
14 If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
Behold, he pulleth down, and there can be no rebuilding: he locketh [the prison] upon a man, and there can be no opening,
15 If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
Behold, he restraineth the waters, and they dry up; or he suffereth them to flow, and they overturn the earth.
16 He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
With him are strength and counsel: his are the deceived and the deceiver.
17 He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
He leadeth counsellors away bereft of sense, and maketh the judges fools.
18 He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth a girdle around their loins.
19 He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
He leadeth priests away bereft of sense, and the powerful he causeth to walk on crooked paths.
20 He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
He removeth the speech from trusty speakers, and taketh away the intelligence of the aged.
21 He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and the belt of the mighty be looseneth.
22 He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
He layeth open deep things from the midst of darkness, and bringeth out unto light the shadow of death.
23 He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
He permitteth the nations to become great, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth out the nations, and leadeth them away.
24 He removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
He taketh away the sense of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander astray in a wilderness when there is no way.
25 They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
They grope in the dark without light, and he causeth them to wander astray like a drunken man.
