Job 12

1 And Job answers and says:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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