< Job 12 >
1 And Job answered and said,
Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum: quis enim haec, quae nostis, ignorat?
4 I am as one mocked by his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is mocked.
Qui deridetur ab amico suo sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim iusti simplicitas.
5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum, parata ad tempus statutum.
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
Abundant tabernacula praedonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
Nimirum interroga iumenta, et docebunt te: et volatilia caeli, et indicabunt tibi.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee.
Loquere terrae, et respondebit tibi: et narrabunt pisces maris.
9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
Quis ignorat quod omnia haec manus Domini fecerit?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
In cuius manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universae carnis hominis.
11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste its food?
Nonne auris verba diiudicat, et fauces comedentis, saporem?
12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo, ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
Si destruxerit, nemo est qui aedificet: si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur: et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia: ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et iudices in stuporem.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a belt.
Balteum regum dissolvit, et praecingit fune renes eorum.
19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
Commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
Effundit despectionem super principes, eos, qui oppressi fuerant, relevans.
22 He revealeth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth to light the shadow of death.
Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
23 He increaseth nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth nations, and leadeth them away.
Qui multiplicat gentes et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Qui immutat cor principum populi terrae, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
Palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.