Job 12
1 Then Job answered and said,
Job replied,
2 “No doubt you are the people; wisdom will die with you.
“You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will 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 too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
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.
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 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.
People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God feel secure; their own hands are their gods.
Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
7 But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you.
But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; the fish of the sea will declare to you.
ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
9 Which animal among all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?
Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
11 Does not the ear test words just as the palate tastes its food?
The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
12 With aged men is wisdom; in length of days is understanding.
Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
13 With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
14 See, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again; if he imprisons someone, there can be no release.
If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
15 See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
16 With him are strength and wisdom; people who are deceived and the deceiver are both in his power.
He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
17 He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow; he turns judges into fools.
He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
18 He takes off the chain of authority from kings; he wraps a cloth about their waists.
He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
19 He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow and overthrows mighty people.
He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
20 He removes the speech of those who had been trusted and takes away the understanding of the elders.
He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
21 He pours contempt upon princes and unfastens the belt of strong people.
He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the 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.
He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
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 removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
25 They grope in the dark without light; he makes them stagger like a drunk man.
They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
