Job 12
1 Job replied,
Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,
2 “You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will die with you!
Therfor ben ye men aloone, that wisdom dwelle with you?
3 But I too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
And to me is an herte, as and to you, and Y am not lowere than ye; for who knowith not these thingis, whiche ye knowen?
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.
He that is scorned of his frend, as Y am, schal inwardli clepe God, and God schal here hym; for the symplenesse of a iust man is scorned.
5 People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
A laumpe is dispisid at the thouytis of riche men, and the laumpe is maad redi to a tyme ordeyned.
6 Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
The tabernaclis of robberis ben plenteuouse, `ether ful of goodis; and boldli thei terren God to wraththe, whanne he hath youe alle thingis in to her hondis.
7 But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
No wondur, ax thou beestis, and tho schulen teche thee; and axe thou volatilis of the eir, and tho schulen schewe to thee.
8 ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
Speke thou to the erthe, and it schal answere thee; and the fischis of the see schulen telle tho thingis.
9 Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
Who knowith not that the hond of the Lord made alle these thingis?
10 He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
In whos hond the soule is of ech lyuynge thing, and the spirit, `that is, resonable soule, of ech fleisch of man.
11 The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
Whether the eere demeth not wordis, and the chekis of the etere demen sauour?
12 Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
Wisdom is in elde men, and prudence is in myche tyme.
13 God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
Wisdom and strengthe is at God; he hath counsel and vndurstondyng.
14 If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
If he distrieth, no man is that bildith; if he schittith in a man, `noon is that openith.
15 If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
If he holdith togidere watris, alle thingis schulen be maad drie; if he sendith out tho watris, tho schulen distrie the erthe.
16 He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
Strengthe and wisdom is at God; he knowith bothe hym that disseyueth and hym that is disseyued.
17 He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
And he bryngith conselours in to a fonned eende, and iugis in to wondryng, ethir astonying.
18 He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
He vnbindith the girdil of kyngis, and girdith her reynes with a coorde.
19 He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
He ledith her prestis with out glorie, and he disseyueth the principal men, `ethir counselours;
20 He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
and he chaungith the lippis of sothefast men, and takith awei the doctrine of elde men.
21 He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
He schedith out dispisyng on princes, and releeueth hem, that weren oppressid.
22 He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
Which schewith depe thingis fro derknessis; and bryngith forth in to liyt the schadewe of deeth.
23 He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
Which multiplieth folkis, and leesith hem, and restorith hem destried in to the hool.
24 He removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
Which chaungith the herte of princes of the puple of erthe; and disseyueth hem, that thei go in veyn out of the weie.
25 They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
Thei schulen grope, as in derknessis, and not in liyt; and he schal make hem to erre as drunken men.
