Job 12
1 Then Iob answered, and sayde,
Then Job answered and said,
2 In deede because that ye are the people onely, wisedome must dye with you.
“No doubt you are the people; 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 have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Indeed, who does not know such things as 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 something for my neighbor to laugh at— I, one who called on God and who was answered by him! I, a just and blameless man—I am now something to laugh at.
5 Hee that is readie to fall, is as a lampe despised in the opinion of the riche.
In the thought of someone who is at ease, there is contempt for misfortune; he thinks in a way that brings more misfortune to those whose foot is slipping.
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 robbers prosper, and those who provoke God feel secure; their own hands are their gods.
7 Aske now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the foules of the heauen, and they shall tell thee:
But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the heavens, and they 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.
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; the fish of the sea will declare to you.
9 Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hande of the Lord hath made these?
Which animal among all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?
10 In whose hande is the soule of euery liuing thing, and the breath of all mankinde.
In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
11 Doeth not the eares discerne the words? and the mouth taste meate for it selfe?
Does not the ear test words just as the palate tastes its food?
12 Among the ancient is wisedome, and in the length of dayes is vnderstanding.
With aged men is wisdom; in length of days is understanding.
13 With him is wisedome and strength: he hath counsell and vnderstanding.
With God are wisdom and might; he has 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.
See, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again; if he imprisons someone, there can be no release.
15 Beholde, he withholdeth the waters, and they drie vp: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth.
See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
16 With him is strength and wisedome: hee that is deceiued, and that deceiueth, are his.
With him are strength and wisdom; people who are deceived and the deceiver are both in his power.
17 He causeth the counsellers to goe as spoyled, and maketh the iudges fooles.
He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow; he turns judges into fools.
18 He looseth the collar of Kings, and girdeth their loynes with a girdle.
He takes off the chain of authority from kings; he wraps a cloth about their waists.
19 He leadeth away the princes as a pray, and ouerthroweth the mightie.
He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow and overthrows mighty people.
20 He taketh away the speach from the faithfull counsellers, and taketh away the iudgement of the ancient.
He removes the speech of those who had been trusted and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21 He powreth contempt vpon princes, and maketh the strength of the mightie weake.
He pours contempt upon princes and unfastens the belt of strong people.
22 He discouereth the deepe places from their darkenesse, and bringeth foorth the shadowe of death to light.
He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
23 He increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he inlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in againe.
He makes nations strong, and he also destroys them; He enlarges nations, and he also leads them along as prisoners.
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 takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth; he causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.
25 They grope in the darke without light: and he maketh the to stagger like a drunken man.
They grope in the dark without light; he makes them stagger like a drunk man.
