Job 12
1 Then responded Job, and said: —
Then Job, answering, said:
2 Of a truth, ye, are the people, and, with you, wisdom, will die.
Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom die with you?
3 I also, have a mind like you, I, fall not short, of you, But who hath not such things as these?
And I have a heart just as you also do, and I am not inferior to you. For who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
4 A laughing-stock to one’s neighbour, do I become, one who hath called upon GOD and he hath answered him! A laughing-stock—a righteous man without blame!
He who is mocked by his friends as I am, will call upon God, and he will listen to him because it is the sincerity of the just that is being mocked.
5 For ruin, there is contempt, in the thought of the man at ease, —ready, for such as are of faltering foot!
The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.
6 At peace are the tents that belong to the spoilers, and there is security to them who provoke GOD, To him who bringeth a god in his hand.
The tabernacles of robbers are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things into their hands.
7 But, in very deed, ask, I pray thee, the beasts, and they will teach thee, and the bird of the heavens, and it will tell thee;
In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.
8 Or address the earth, and it will teach thee, and the fishes of the sea, will recount it to thee:
Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.
9 Who knoweth not, among all these, that, the hand of Yahweh, hath done this?
Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the flesh of men.
In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.
11 Doth not, the ear, try, words? even as, the palate, tasteth for itself, food?
Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?
12 In the Ancient, is wisdom, and [in] Length of Days, understanding:
In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.
13 With Him, are wisdom and strength, to Him, pertain counsel and understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.
14 Lo! He pulleth down, and it cannot be built, He closeth up over a man, and it cannot be opened:
If he tears down, there is no one who can build up; if he encloses a man, there is no one who can open.
15 Lo! He holdeth back the waters, and they dry up, or sendeth them out, and they transform the earth:
If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.
16 With Him, is strength and effective wisdom, to Him, belong he that erreth, and he that causeth to err.
With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.
17 Who leadeth away counsellors [as] a spoil, and, judges, He befooleth:
He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.
18 The fetters of kings, He looseth, or hath bound a slave’s waistcloth about their loins:
He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.
19 Who leadeth away priests [as] a spoil, and, men firmly seated, He overturneth:
He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,
20 Setting aside the speech of the trusty, and, the discernment of elders, He taketh away:
altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.
21 Pouring contempt upon nobles, and, the girdle of the mighty, hath He loosed:
He pours disdain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.
22 Laying open deep things, out of darkness, and bringing out to light, the death-shade:
He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.
23 Who giveth greatness to nations, or destroyeth them, Who spreadeth out nations, or leadeth them into exile:
He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.
24 Who taketh away the sense of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and hath caused them to wander in a pathless waste:
He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.
25 They grope about in the dark, having no light, and He hath made them to reel, like a drunken man.
They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.
