Job 12
1 And Job answers and says:
Then Job answered and said,
2 “Truly—you [are] the people, and wisdom dies with you.
No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3 I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like 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 a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers him, A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.
I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, [a man] that called upon God, and he answered him: the just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
5 A torch—despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for them whose foot slippeth.
6 The tents of spoilers are at peace, And those provoking God have confidence, Into whose hand God has brought.
The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].
7 And yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, And it shows you, And a bird of the heavens, And it declares to you.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell 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 it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9 Who has not known in all these, That the hand of YHWH has done this?
Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of LORD hath wrought this?
10 In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
11 Does the ear not try words? And the palate taste food for itself?
Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its meat?
12 With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days [is] understanding.
With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
13 With Him [are] wisdom and might, To Him [are] counsel and understanding.
With him is wisdom and might; he hath 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 breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; he shutteth up 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 withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16 With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.
With him is strength and effectual working; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 Causing counselors to go away [as] a spoil, Indeed, He makes fools of judges.
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he 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 their loins with a girdle.
19 Causing ministers to go away [as] a spoil And strong ones He overthrows.
He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 Turning aside the lip of the steadfast, And the reason of the aged He takes away.
He removeth the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the elders.
21 Pouring contempt on princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
22 Removing deep things out of darkness, And He brings out to light death-shade.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23 Magnifying the nations, and He destroys them, Spreading out the nations, and He quiets them.
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth the nations abroad, and bringeth them in.
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 heart of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where 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 maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
