Job 12

1 Then Job answered,

Then Job answered,

2 "No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

"No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn't know such things as these?

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn't know such things as these?

4 I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.

I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.

5 In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.

In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.

6 The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.

The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.

7 "But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; the birds of the sky, and they shall tell you.

"But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; the birds of the sky, and they shall tell you.

8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you. The fish of the sea shall declare to you.

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you. The fish of the sea shall declare to you.

9 Who doesn't know that in all these, the hand of the LORD has done this,

Who doesn't know that in all these, the hand of the LORD has done this,

10 in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?

in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?

11 Doesn't the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?

Doesn't the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?

12 With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.

With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.

13 "With him is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

"With him is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

14 Look, he breaks down, and it can't be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

Look, he breaks down, and it can't be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

15 Look, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.

Look, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.

16 With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.

With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.

He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.

18 He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.

He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.

19 He leads cohanim away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

He leads cohanim away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

20 He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.

He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.

21 He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.

He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.

22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.

He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.

23 He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.

He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.

24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

25 They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.