Job 12
1 Then responded Job, and said: —
When Job answered, and said:
2 Of a truth, ye, are the people, and, with you, wisdom, will die.
Are you then men alone, and shall 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?
I also have a heart as well as 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 that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.
5 For ruin, there is contempt, in the thought of the man at ease, —ready, for such as are of faltering foot!
The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.
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 abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all 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;
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.
8 Or address the earth, and it will teach thee, and the fishes of the sea, will recount it to thee:
Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.
9 Who knoweth not, among all these, that, the hand of Yahweh, hath done this?
Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath 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 whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.
11 Doth not, the ear, try, words? even as, the palate, tasteth for itself, food?
Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?
12 In the Ancient, is wisdom, and [in] Length of Days, understanding:
In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.
13 With Him, are wisdom and strength, to Him, pertain counsel and understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath 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 pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a. man, there is none that can open.
15 Lo! He holdeth back the waters, and they dry up, or sendeth them out, and they transform the earth:
If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.
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 knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.
17 Who leadeth away counsellors [as] a spoil, and, judges, He befooleth:
He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.
18 The fetters of kings, He looseth, or hath bound a slave’s waistcloth about their loins:
He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.
19 Who leadeth away priests [as] a spoil, and, men firmly seated, He overturneth:
He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.
20 Setting aside the speech of the trusty, and, the discernment of elders, He taketh away:
He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.
21 Pouring contempt upon nobles, and, the girdle of the mighty, hath He loosed:
He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.
22 Laying open deep things, out of darkness, and bringing out to light, the death-shade:
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.
23 Who giveth greatness to nations, or destroyeth them, Who spreadeth out nations, or leadeth them into exile:
He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.
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 changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way.
25 They grope about in the dark, having no light, and He hath made them to reel, like a drunken man.
They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.
