Job 12
1 Then Iob answered, and sayde,
Job replied,
2 In deede because that ye are the people onely, wisedome must dye with you.
“You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will 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 too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
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.
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.
5 Hee that is readie to fall, is as a lampe despised in the opinion of the riche.
People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
6 The tabernacles of robbers doe prosper, and they are in safetie, that prouoke God, whome God hath enriched with his hand.
Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
7 Aske now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the foules of the heauen, and they shall tell thee:
But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
8 Or speake to the earth, and it shall shewe thee: or the fishes of the sea, and they shall declare vnto thee.
ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
9 Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hande of the Lord hath made these?
Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
10 In whose hande is the soule of euery liuing thing, and the breath of all mankinde.
He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
11 Doeth not the eares discerne the words? and the mouth taste meate for it selfe?
The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
12 Among the ancient is wisedome, and in the length of dayes is vnderstanding.
Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
13 With him is wisedome and strength: he hath counsell and vnderstanding.
God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
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 tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
15 Beholde, he withholdeth the waters, and they drie vp: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth.
If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
16 With him is strength and wisedome: hee that is deceiued, and that deceiueth, are his.
He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
17 He causeth the counsellers to goe as spoyled, and maketh the iudges fooles.
He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
18 He looseth the collar of Kings, and girdeth their loynes with a girdle.
He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
19 He leadeth away the princes as a pray, and ouerthroweth the mightie.
He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
20 He taketh away the speach from the faithfull counsellers, and taketh away the iudgement of the ancient.
He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
21 He powreth contempt vpon princes, and maketh the strength of the mightie weake.
He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
22 He discouereth the deepe places from their darkenesse, and bringeth foorth the shadowe of death to light.
He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
23 He increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he inlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in againe.
He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
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 removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
25 They grope in the darke without light: and he maketh the to stagger like a drunken man.
They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
