Job 12
1 Then Job answered and said,
Then Job, answering, said:
2 “No doubt you are the people; wisdom will die with you.
Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom 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?
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 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.
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 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.
The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God feel secure; their own hands are their gods.
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 now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you.
In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.
9 Which animal among all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?
Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.
11 Does not the ear test words just as the palate tastes its food?
Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?
12 With aged men is wisdom; in length of days is understanding.
In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.
13 With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he has 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 tears down, there is no one who can build up; if he encloses a man, there is no one who can open.
15 See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.
16 With him are strength and wisdom; people who are deceived and the deceiver are both in his power.
With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.
17 He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow; he turns judges into fools.
He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.
18 He takes off the chain of authority from kings; he wraps a cloth about their waists.
He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.
19 He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow and overthrows mighty people.
He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,
20 He removes the speech of those who had been trusted and takes away the understanding of the elders.
altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.
21 He pours contempt upon princes and unfastens the belt of strong people.
He pours disdain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.
23 He makes nations strong, and he also destroys them; He enlarges nations, and he also leads them along as prisoners.
He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.
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.
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 in the dark without light; he makes them stagger like a drunk man.
They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.
