Job 12
1 Then Iob answered, and sayde,
When Job answered, and said:
2 In deede because that ye are the people onely, wisedome must dye with you.
Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you?
3 But I haue vnderstanding aswel as you, and am not inferior vnto you: yea, who knoweth not such things?
I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
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.
He that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.
5 Hee that is readie to fall, is as a lampe despised in the opinion of the riche.
The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.
6 The tabernacles of robbers doe prosper, and they are in safetie, that prouoke God, whome God hath enriched with his hand.
The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:
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, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.
8 Or speake to the earth, and it shall shewe thee: or the fishes of the sea, and they shall declare vnto thee.
Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.
9 Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hande of the Lord hath made these?
Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?
10 In whose hande is the soule of euery liuing thing, and the breath of all mankinde.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.
11 Doeth not the eares discerne the words? and the mouth taste meate for it selfe?
Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?
12 Among the ancient is wisedome, and in the length of dayes is vnderstanding.
In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.
13 With him is wisedome and strength: he hath counsell and vnderstanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath 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 pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a. man, there is none that can open.
15 Beholde, he withholdeth the waters, and they drie vp: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth.
If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.
16 With him is strength and wisedome: hee that is deceiued, and that deceiueth, are his.
With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.
17 He causeth the counsellers to goe as spoyled, and maketh the iudges fooles.
He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.
18 He looseth the collar of Kings, and girdeth their loynes with a girdle.
He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.
19 He leadeth away the princes as a pray, and ouerthroweth the mightie.
He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.
20 He taketh away the speach from the faithfull counsellers, and taketh away the iudgement of the ancient.
He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.
21 He powreth contempt vpon princes, and maketh the strength of the mightie weake.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.
22 He discouereth the deepe places from their darkenesse, and bringeth foorth the shadowe of death to light.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.
23 He increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he inlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in againe.
He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.
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.
He changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way.
25 They grope in the darke without light: and he maketh the to stagger like a drunken man.
They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.
