Job 12
1 Then Job answered and said,
And Job answered and said,
2 “No doubt you are the people; wisdom will die with you.
So then you [alone] are men, and wisdom shall die with you?
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Indeed, who does not know such things as these?
[But] I also have a heart as well as you.
4 I am something for my neighbor to laugh at— I, one who called on God and who was answered by him! I, a just and blameless man—I am now something to laugh at.
For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.
5 In the thought of someone who is at ease, there is contempt for misfortune; he thinks in a way that brings more misfortune to those whose foot is slipping.
For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be [held] guiltless,
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God feel secure; their own hands are their gods.
even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.
7 But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you.
But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to you; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to you.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Tell the earth, if it may speak to you: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to you.
9 Which animal among all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?
Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.
11 Does not the ear test words just as the palate tastes its food?
For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.
12 With aged men is wisdom; in length of days is understanding.
In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.
13 With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.
14 See, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again; if he imprisons someone, there can be no release.
If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?
15 See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.
16 With him are strength and wisdom; people who are deceived and the deceiver are both in his power.
With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.
17 He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow; he turns judges into fools.
He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.
18 He takes off the chain of authority from kings; he wraps a cloth about their waists.
He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.
19 He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow and overthrows mighty people.
He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.
20 He removes the speech of those who had been trusted and takes away the understanding of the elders.
He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.
21 He pours contempt upon princes and unfastens the belt of strong people.
He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.
23 He makes nations strong, and he also destroys them; He enlarges nations, and he also leads them along as prisoners.
Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].
24 He takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth; he causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.
Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, [saying],
25 They grope in the dark without light; he makes them stagger like a drunk man.
Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.
