Job 12
1 Then Job answered and said:
Then Job answered and said,
2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who does not know such things as these?
4 I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon God, and He answered him; the just, the innocent man is a laughing-stock,
I am as a man who is a laughing-stock to his neighbor. I who called upon God, and he answered. The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
5 A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.
In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for calamity. It is ready for those whose foot slips.
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.
The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure. Into whose hand God brings abundantly.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee;
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee.
9 Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
Who does not know in all these, that the hand of Jehovah has wrought this,
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. —
in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
11 Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?
Does not the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
12 Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days? —
With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
13 With Him is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.
With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
14 Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again. He shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 Behold, He withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also He sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
16 With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.
With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.
He leads counselors away stripped, and he makes judges fools.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
He loosens the bond of kings, and he binds their loins with a belt.
19 He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.
He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
20 He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.
He removes the speech of the trustworthy, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
He pours contempt upon rulers, and weakens the strength of the strong.
22 He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.
He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
24 He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.
