Job 12
1 Then Iob answered, and sayde,
And Job answers and says:
2 In deede because that ye are the people onely, wisedome must dye with you.
“Truly—you [are] the people, and wisdom dies 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 like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?
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.
I am a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers him, A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.
5 Hee that is readie to fall, is as a lampe despised in the opinion of the riche.
A torch—despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
6 The tabernacles of robbers doe prosper, and they are in safetie, that prouoke God, whome God hath enriched with his hand.
The tents of spoilers are at peace, And those provoking God have confidence, Into whose hand God has brought.
7 Aske now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the foules of the heauen, and they shall tell thee:
And yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, And it shows you, And a bird of the heavens, And it declares 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.
Or talk to the earth, and it shows you, And fishes of the sea recount to you:
9 Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hande of the Lord hath made these?
Who has not known in all these, That the hand of YHWH has done this?
10 In whose hande is the soule of euery liuing thing, and the breath of all mankinde.
In whose hand [is] the breath 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?
Does the ear not try words? And the palate taste food for itself?
12 Among the ancient is wisedome, and in the length of dayes is vnderstanding.
With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days [is] understanding.
13 With him is wisedome and strength: he hath counsell and vnderstanding.
With Him [are] wisdom and might, To Him [are] 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.
Behold, He breaks down, and it is not built up, He shuts against a man, And it is not opened.
15 Beholde, he withholdeth the waters, and they drie vp: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth.
Behold, He keeps in the waters, and they are dried up, And He sends them forth, And they overturn the land.
16 With him is strength and wisedome: hee that is deceiued, and that deceiueth, are his.
With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.
17 He causeth the counsellers to goe as spoyled, and maketh the iudges fooles.
Causing counselors to go away [as] a spoil, Indeed, He makes fools of judges.
18 He looseth the collar of Kings, and girdeth their loynes with a girdle.
He has opened the bands of kings, And He binds a girdle on their loins.
19 He leadeth away the princes as a pray, and ouerthroweth the mightie.
Causing ministers to go away [as] a spoil And strong ones He overthrows.
20 He taketh away the speach from the faithfull counsellers, and taketh away the iudgement of the ancient.
Turning aside the lip of the steadfast, And the reason of the aged He takes away.
21 He powreth contempt vpon princes, and maketh the strength of the mightie weake.
Pouring contempt on princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
22 He discouereth the deepe places from their darkenesse, and bringeth foorth the shadowe of death to light.
Removing deep things out of darkness, And He brings out to light death-shade.
23 He increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he inlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in againe.
Magnifying the nations, and He destroys them, Spreading out the nations, and He quiets 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.
Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And He causes them to wander In vacancy—no way!
25 They grope in the darke without light: and he maketh the to stagger like a drunken man.
They feel darkness, and not light, He causes them to wander as a drunkard.”
