Job 12

1 Then answered Job, and said,

And Job answered and said,

2 Truly ye are indeed the [right kind of] people, and with you wisdom must die out.

So then you [alone] are men, and wisdom shall die with you?

3 I also have sense like you; I do not fall short compared with you: and who possesseth not such things as these?

[But] I also have a heart as well as you.

4 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.

For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.

5 To the unfortunate there is given contempt— according to the thoughts of him that is at ease— prepared [also] for those whose foot slippeth.

For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be [held] guiltless,

6 Prosperous are the tents of robbers, and security is given to those that provoke God. to him who carrieth his god in his hand.

even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.

7 Yet, do only ask of the beasts, and they will instruct thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they will tell it thee;

But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to you; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to you.

8 Or speak to the earth, and she will instruct thee; and the fishes of the sea will inform thee

Tell the earth, if it may speak to you: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to you.

9 Who knoweth not through all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?

10 [He] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the bodies of men?

Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.

11 Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food for itself?

For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.

12 So It with the ancients wisdom, and with [those of] length of days understanding,

In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.

13 That with him are wisdom and strength, his are counsel and understanding.

With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.

14 Behold, he pulleth down, and there can be no rebuilding: he locketh [the prison] upon a man, and there can be no opening,

If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?

15 Behold, he restraineth the waters, and they dry up; or he suffereth them to flow, and they overturn the earth.

If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.

16 With him are strength and counsel: his are the deceived and the deceiver.

With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.

17 He leadeth counsellors away bereft of sense, and maketh the judges fools.

He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.

18 He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth a girdle around their loins.

He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.

19 He leadeth priests away bereft of sense, and the powerful he causeth to walk on crooked paths.

He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.

20 He removeth the speech from trusty speakers, and taketh away the intelligence of the aged.

He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.

21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and the belt of the mighty be looseneth.

He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.

22 He layeth open deep things from the midst of darkness, and bringeth out unto light the shadow of death.

Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.

23 He permitteth the nations to become great, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth out the nations, and leadeth them away.

Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].

24 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.

Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, [saying],

25 They grope in the dark without light, and he causeth them to wander astray like a drunken man.

Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.