Job 12
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Respondens autem Job, dixit:
2 Truly ye are indeed the [right kind of] people, and with you wisdom must die out.
[Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
3 I also have sense like you; I do not fall short compared with you: and who possesseth not such things as these?
Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum; quis enim hæc quæ nostis ignorat?
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.
Qui deridetur ab amico suo, sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim justi simplicitas.
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.
Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum parata ad tempus statutum.
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.
Abundant tabernacula prædonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
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;
Nimirum interroga jumenta, et docebunt te; et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.
8 Or speak to the earth, and she will instruct thee; and the fishes of the sea will inform thee
Loquere terræ, et respondebit tibi, et narrabunt pisces maris.
9 Who knoweth not through all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit?
10 [He] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the bodies of men?
In cujus manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universæ carnis hominis.
11 Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food for itself?
Nonne auris verba dijudicat? et fauces comedentis, saporem?
12 So It with the ancients wisdom, and with [those of] length of days understanding,
In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
13 That with him are wisdom and strength, his are counsel and understanding.
Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo; ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
14 Behold, he pulleth down, and there can be no rebuilding: he locketh [the prison] upon a man, and there can be no opening,
Si destruxerit, nemo est qui ædificet; si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
15 Behold, he restraineth the waters, and they dry up; or he suffereth them to flow, and they overturn the earth.
Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur; et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
16 With him are strength and counsel: his are the deceived and the deceiver.
Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia; ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
17 He leadeth counsellors away bereft of sense, and maketh the judges fools.
Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et judices in stuporem.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth a girdle around their loins.
Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.
19 He leadeth priests away bereft of sense, and the powerful he causeth to walk on crooked paths.
Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
20 He removeth the speech from trusty speakers, and taketh away the intelligence of the aged.
commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and the belt of the mighty be looseneth.
Effundit despectionem super principes, eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans.
22 He layeth open deep things from the midst of darkness, and bringeth out unto light the shadow of death.
Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
23 He permitteth the nations to become great, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth out the nations, and leadeth them away.
Qui multiplicat gentes, et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
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.
Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he causeth them to wander astray like a drunken man.
palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.]
