Job 12
1 And Job answered and said,
Then Job answered:
2 No doubt but all of you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
“Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!
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 also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. 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 a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.
5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings abundantly.
The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure— those who carry their god in their hands.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you:
But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
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 will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.
9 Who knows not in all these that the hand of the LORD has wrought this?
Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
11 Does not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his food?
Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?
12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.
Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
14 Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again: he shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.
What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
15 Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up: also he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.
16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 He leads counsellors away spoiled, and makes the judges fools.
He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges.
18 He looses the bond of kings, and girds their loins with a girdle.
He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists.
19 He leads princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty.
He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows the established.
20 He removes away the speech of the trusty, and takes away the understanding of the aged.
He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.
21 He pours contempt upon princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty.
He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
22 He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.
23 He increases the nations, and destroys them: he enlarges the nations, and straitens them again.
He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
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 deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.
They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.
