Job 12
1 Then responded Job, and said: —
Job replied,
2 Of a truth, ye, are the people, and, with you, wisdom, will die.
“You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will 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?
But I too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
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!
But my friends laugh at me because I called on God and he answered me: the innocent man who does right has become an object of derision.
5 For ruin, there is contempt, in the thought of the man at ease, —ready, for such as are of faltering foot!
People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
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.
Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
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 if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
8 Or address the earth, and it will teach thee, and the fishes of the sea, will recount it to thee:
ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
9 Who knoweth not, among all these, that, the hand of Yahweh, hath done this?
Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the flesh of men.
He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
11 Doth not, the ear, try, words? even as, the palate, tasteth for itself, food?
The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
12 In the Ancient, is wisdom, and [in] Length of Days, understanding:
Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
13 With Him, are wisdom and strength, to Him, pertain counsel and understanding.
God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
14 Lo! He pulleth down, and it cannot be built, He closeth up over a man, and it cannot be opened:
If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
15 Lo! He holdeth back the waters, and they dry up, or sendeth them out, and they transform the earth:
If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
16 With Him, is strength and effective wisdom, to Him, belong he that erreth, and he that causeth to err.
He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
17 Who leadeth away counsellors [as] a spoil, and, judges, He befooleth:
He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
18 The fetters of kings, He looseth, or hath bound a slave’s waistcloth about their loins:
He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
19 Who leadeth away priests [as] a spoil, and, men firmly seated, He overturneth:
He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
20 Setting aside the speech of the trusty, and, the discernment of elders, He taketh away:
He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
21 Pouring contempt upon nobles, and, the girdle of the mighty, hath He loosed:
He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
22 Laying open deep things, out of darkness, and bringing out to light, the death-shade:
He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
23 Who giveth greatness to nations, or destroyeth them, Who spreadeth out nations, or leadeth them into exile:
He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
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 removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
25 They grope about in the dark, having no light, and He hath made them to reel, like a drunken man.
They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
