Job 12
1 And 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 ye are the whole people! And 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 have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: Yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4 I am [as] one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright [man is] laughed to scorn.
I am become a laughing-stock to my friend, —I who call upon God, that he would answer me! The innocent and upright man is held in derision.
5 He that is ready to slip with [his] feet [is as] a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
To calamity belongeth contempt in the mind of one at ease; It is ready for them that slip with the feet.
6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].
The tents of robbers are in prosperity, And they who provoke God are secure, Who carry their God in their hand.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
For ask now the beasts, and they will teach thee; Or the fowls of the air, and they will 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 will instruct thee; And the fishes of the sea will declare unto thee.
9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
Who among all these doth not know That the hand of Jehovah doeth these things?
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? and the mouth taste his meat?
Doth not the ear prove words, As the mouth tasteth meat?
12 With the ancient [is] wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
With the aged is wisdom, And with length of days is understanding.
13 With him [is] wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
With Him are wisdom and strength; With Him 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.
Lo! he pulleth down, and it shall not be rebuilt; He bindeth a man, and he shall not be set loose.
15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Lo! he withholdeth the waters, and they are dried up; He sendeth them forth, and they lay waste the earth.
16 With him [is] strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver [are] his.
With him are strength and wisdom; The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
He leadeth counsellors away captive, And judges he maketh fools.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
He looseth the authority of kings, And bindeth their loins with a cord.
19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
He leadeth priests away captive, And overthroweth the mighty.
20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
He removeth speech from the trusty, And taketh away judgment from the elders.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
He poureth contempt upon princes, And looseth the girdle of the mighty.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
He revealeth deep things out of darkness, And bringeth the shadow of death to light.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them [again].
He exalteth nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth nations, and leadeth them captive.
24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness [where there is] no way.
He taketh away the understanding of the great men of the land, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness, where is no path;
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; He maketh them stagger like a drunken man.
