Job 12

1 Job replied,

And Job answereth and saith: —

2 “You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will die with you!

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

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 a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like 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.

A laughter to his friend I am: 'He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

5 People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.

A torch — despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.

6 Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’

At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.

7 But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;

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 ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.

Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:

9 Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?

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

10 He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.

In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.'

11 The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.

Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

12 Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.

With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days understanding.

13 God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.

With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.

14 If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.

Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.

15 If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.

Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.

16 He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.

With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.

17 He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.

Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.

18 He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.

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

19 He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.

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

20 He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.

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

21 He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.

Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.

22 He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.

Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.

23 He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.

Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.

24 He removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.

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 grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.

They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.