Job 12
1 Job replied,
Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
2 “You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will die with you!
Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
3 But I too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum: quis enim hæc, quæ nostis, ignorat?
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.
Qui deridetur ab amico suo sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim iusti simplicitas.
5 People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum, parata ad tempus statutum.
6 Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
Abundant tabernacula prædonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
7 But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
Nimirum interroga iumenta, et docebunt te: et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.
8 ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
Loquere terræ, et respondebit tibi: et narrabunt pisces maris.
9 Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit?
10 He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
In cuius manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universæ carnis hominis.
11 The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
Nonne auris verba diiudicat, et fauces comedentis, saporem?
12 Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
13 God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo, ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
14 If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
Si destruxerit, nemo est qui ædificet: si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
15 If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur: et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
16 He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia: ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
17 He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et iudices in stuporem.
18 He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.
19 He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
20 He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
Commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
21 He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
Effundit despectionem super principes, eos, qui oppressi fuerant, relevans.
22 He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
23 He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
Qui multiplicat gentes et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
24 He removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
25 They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
Palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.
