Job 12

1 And Job answers and says:

Then answered Job, and said,

2 “Truly—you [are] the people, and wisdom dies with you.

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

3 I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?

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

4 I am a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers him, A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

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.

5 A torch—despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.

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

6 The tents of spoilers are at peace, And those provoking God have confidence, Into whose hand God has brought.

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

7 And yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, And it shows you, And a bird of the heavens, And it declares to you.

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

8 Or talk to the earth, and it shows you, And fishes of the sea recount to you:

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

9 Who has not known in all these, That the hand of YHWH has done this?

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

10 In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.

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

11 Does the ear not try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

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

12 With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days [is] understanding.

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

13 With Him [are] wisdom and might, To Him [are] counsel and understanding.

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

14 Behold, He breaks down, and it is not built up, He shuts against a man, And it is not opened.

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

15 Behold, He keeps in the waters, and they are dried up, And He sends them forth, And they overturn the land.

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

16 With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.

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

17 Causing counselors to go away [as] a spoil, Indeed, He makes fools of judges.

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

18 He has opened the bands of kings, And He binds a girdle on their loins.

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

19 Causing ministers to go away [as] a spoil And strong ones He overthrows.

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

20 Turning aside the lip of the steadfast, And the reason of the aged He takes away.

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

21 Pouring contempt on princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.

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

22 Removing deep things out of darkness, And He brings out to light death-shade.

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

23 Magnifying the nations, and He destroys them, Spreading out the nations, and He quiets them.

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

24 Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And He causes them to wander In vacancy—no way!

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.

25 They feel darkness, and not light, He causes them to wander as a drunkard.”

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