Job 12
1 Then Job answered and said:
Job replied,
2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
“You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will 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 too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
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,
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 A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.
People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.
Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, 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 speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;
ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
9 Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. —
He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
11 Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?
The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
12 Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days? —
Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
13 With Him is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.
God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
14 Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
15 Behold, He withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also He sendeth them out, and they overturn 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 sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.
He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
17 He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.
He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
19 He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.
He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
20 He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.
He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
22 He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.
He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
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 removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
