Job 12
1 Then Iob answered, and sayde,
And Job answered and said,
2 In deede because that ye are the people onely, wisedome must dye with you.
So then you [alone] are men, and wisdom shall die with you?
3 But I haue vnderstanding aswel as you, and am not inferior vnto you: yea, who knoweth not such things?
[But] I also have a heart as well as you.
4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth vpon God, and he heareth him: the iust and the vpright is laughed to scorne.
For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.
5 Hee that is readie to fall, is as a lampe despised in the opinion of the riche.
For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be [held] guiltless,
6 The tabernacles of robbers doe prosper, and they are in safetie, that prouoke God, whome God hath enriched with his hand.
even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.
7 Aske now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the foules of the heauen, and they shall tell thee:
But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to you; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to you.
8 Or speake to the earth, and it shall shewe thee: or the fishes of the sea, and they shall declare vnto thee.
Tell the earth, if it may speak to you: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to you.
9 Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hande of the Lord hath made these?
Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?
10 In whose hande is the soule of euery liuing thing, and the breath of all mankinde.
Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.
11 Doeth not the eares discerne the words? and the mouth taste meate for it selfe?
For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.
12 Among the ancient is wisedome, and in the length of dayes is vnderstanding.
In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.
13 With him is wisedome and strength: he hath counsell and vnderstanding.
With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.
14 Beholde, he will breake downe, and it can not be built: he shutteth a man vp, and he can not be loosed.
If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?
15 Beholde, he withholdeth the waters, and they drie vp: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth.
If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.
16 With him is strength and wisedome: hee that is deceiued, and that deceiueth, are his.
With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.
17 He causeth the counsellers to goe as spoyled, and maketh the iudges fooles.
He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.
18 He looseth the collar of Kings, and girdeth their loynes with a girdle.
He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.
19 He leadeth away the princes as a pray, and ouerthroweth the mightie.
He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.
20 He taketh away the speach from the faithfull counsellers, and taketh away the iudgement of the ancient.
He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.
21 He powreth contempt vpon princes, and maketh the strength of the mightie weake.
He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.
22 He discouereth the deepe places from their darkenesse, and bringeth foorth the shadowe of death to light.
Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.
23 He increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he inlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in againe.
Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].
24 He taketh away the heartes of the that are the chiefe ouer the people of the earth, and maketh them to wander in the wildernes out of the way.
Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, [saying],
25 They grope in the darke without light: and he maketh the to stagger like a drunken man.
Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.
