Job 12
1 Then Job answered and said:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
Truly ye are indeed the [right kind of] people, and with you wisdom must die out.
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
I also have sense like you; I do not fall short compared with you: and who possesseth not 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 one laughed at by his friend, who calleth upon God, while he answered him: [yea, ] a laughing-stock though righteous and innocent.
5 A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.
To the unfortunate there is given contempt— according to the thoughts of him that is at ease— prepared [also] for those whose foot slippeth.
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.
Prosperous are the tents of robbers, and security is given to those that provoke God. to him who carrieth his god in his hand.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee;
Yet, do only ask of the beasts, and they will instruct thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they will tell it 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 she will instruct thee; and the fishes of the sea will inform thee
9 Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
Who knoweth not through all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. —
[He] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the bodies of men?
11 Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?
Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food for itself?
12 Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days? —
So It with the ancients wisdom, and with [those of] length of days understanding,
13 With Him is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.
That with him are wisdom and strength, his are 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 pulleth down, and there can be no rebuilding: he locketh [the prison] upon 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 restraineth the waters, and they dry up; or he suffereth them to flow, and they overturn the earth.
16 With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.
With him are strength and counsel: his are the deceived and the deceiver.
17 He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.
He leadeth counsellors away bereft of sense, and maketh the judges fools.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth a girdle around their loins.
19 He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.
He leadeth priests away bereft of sense, and the powerful he causeth to walk on crooked paths.
20 He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.
He removeth the speech from trusty speakers, and taketh away the intelligence of the aged.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and the belt of the mighty be looseneth.
22 He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
He layeth open deep things from the midst of darkness, and bringeth out unto light the shadow of death.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.
He permitteth the nations to become great, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth out the nations, and leadeth them away.
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 taketh away the sense of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander astray in a wilderness when 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 causeth them to wander astray like a drunken man.
