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.
No doubt but you are the people, 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 have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yes, who knows not such things as these?
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.
I am as one mocked of his neighbor, who calls on God, and he answers him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
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.
He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God feel secure; their own hands are their gods.
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings abundantly.
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, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you:
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you: and the fishes of the sea shall declare to you.
9 Which animal among all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?
Who knows not in all these that the hand of the LORD has worked this?
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
11 Does not the ear test words just as the palate tastes its food?
Does not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12 With aged men is wisdom; in length of days is understanding.
With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
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.
Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again: he shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up: also he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
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: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow; he turns judges into fools.
He leads counsellors away spoiled, and makes the judges fools.
18 He takes off the chain of authority from kings; he wraps a cloth about their waists.
He looses the bond of kings, and girds their loins with a girdle.
19 He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow and overthrows mighty people.
He leads princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty.
20 He removes the speech of those who had been trusted and takes away the understanding of the elders.
He removes away the speech of the trusty, and takes away the understanding of the aged.
21 He pours contempt upon princes and unfastens the belt of strong people.
He pours contempt on princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty.
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to 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 increases the nations, and destroys them: he enlarges the nations, and straitens them again.
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 takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25 They grope in the dark without light; he makes them stagger like a drunk man.
They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.
