Job 12
1 Then answered Job, and said,
When Job answered, and said:
2 Truly ye are indeed the [right kind of] people, and with you wisdom must die out.
Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom 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?
I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
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.
He that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.
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.
The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.
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.
The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:
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, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.
8 Or speak to the earth, and she will instruct thee; and the fishes of the sea will inform thee
Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.
9 Who knoweth not through all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?
10 [He] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the bodies of men?
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.
11 Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food for itself?
Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?
12 So It with the ancients wisdom, and with [those of] length of days understanding,
In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.
13 That with him are wisdom and strength, his are counsel and understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath 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 pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a. man, there is none that can open.
15 Behold, he restraineth the waters, and they dry up; or he suffereth them to flow, and they overturn the earth.
If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.
16 With him are strength and counsel: his are the deceived and the deceiver.
With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.
17 He leadeth counsellors away bereft of sense, and maketh the judges fools.
He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth a girdle around their loins.
He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.
19 He leadeth priests away bereft of sense, and the powerful he causeth to walk on crooked paths.
He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.
20 He removeth the speech from trusty speakers, and taketh away the intelligence of the aged.
He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and the belt of the mighty be looseneth.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.
22 He layeth open deep things from the midst of darkness, and bringeth out unto light the shadow of death.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to 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.
He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.
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.
He changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he causeth them to wander astray like a drunken man.
They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.
