Job 12

1 And Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

2 No doubt but all of you 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 knows 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 mocked of his neighbour, who calls upon God, and he answers him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

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 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for calamity. It is ready for those whose foot slips.

6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings abundantly.

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 you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you:

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 you: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto you.

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee.

9 Who knows not in all these that the hand of the LORD has 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 Does not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his food?

Does not the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?

12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.

With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

14 Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again: he shuts 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 withholds the waters, and they dry up: also he sends 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 wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leads counsellors away spoiled, and makes the judges fools.

He leads counselors away stripped, and he makes judges fools.

18 He looses the bond of kings, and girds their loins with a girdle.

He loosens the bond of kings, and he binds their loins with a belt.

19 He leads princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty.

He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

20 He removes away the speech of the trusty, and takes away the understanding of the aged.

He removes the speech of the trustworthy, and takes away the understanding of the elders.

21 He pours contempt upon princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty.

He pours contempt upon rulers, and weakens the strength of the strong.

22 He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings 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 increases the nations, and destroys them: he enlarges the nations, and straitens them again.

He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.

24 He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes 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 makes them to stagger like a drunken man.

They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.