Job 12

1 And Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

2 No doubt but ye [are] the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

3 But I have understanding as well as you; I [am] not inferior to you: yes, who knoweth not such things as these?

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who does not know such things as these?

4 I am [as] one mocked by his neighbor, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright [man is] derided.

I am as a man who is a laughing-stock to his neighbor. I who called upon God, and he answered. The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

5 He that is ready to slip with [his] feet [is as] a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for calamity. It is ready for those whose foot slips.

6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].

The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure. Into whose hand God brings abundantly.

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee.

8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee.

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee.

9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

Who does not know in all these, that the hand of Jehovah has wrought this,

10 In whose hand [is] the soul 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 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste its food?

Does not the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?

12 With the ancient [is] wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.

13 With him [is] wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again. He shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.

15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.

16 With him [is] strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver [are] his.

With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leadeth counselors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

He leads counselors away stripped, and he makes judges fools.

18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.

He loosens the bond of kings, and he binds their loins with a belt.

19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

He removes the speech of the trustworthy, and takes away the understanding of the elders.

21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

He pours contempt upon rulers, and weakens the strength of the strong.

22 He revealeth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth to light the shades of death.

He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.

23 He increaseth nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth nations, and straiteneth them [again].

He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.

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.

He takes away understanding from the chiefs 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, and he maketh them to stagger like [a] drunken [man].

They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.