Job 12
1 Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,
Then Job answered,
2 Therfor ben ye men aloone, that wisdom dwelle with you?
“No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.
3 And to me is an herte, as and to you, and Y am not lowere than ye; for who knowith not these thingis, whiche ye knowen?
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who does not know such things as these?
4 He that is scorned of his frend, as Y am, schal inwardli clepe God, and God schal here hym; for the symplenesse of a iust man is scorned.
I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
5 A laumpe is dispisid at the thouytis of riche men, and the laumpe is maad redi to a tyme ordeyned.
In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
6 The tabernaclis of robberis ben plenteuouse, `ether ful of goodis; and boldli thei terren God to wraththe, whanne he hath youe alle thingis in to her hondis.
The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.
7 No wondur, ax thou beestis, and tho schulen teche thee; and axe thou volatilis of the eir, and tho schulen schewe to thee.
“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
8 Speke thou to the erthe, and it schal answere thee; and the fischis of the see schulen telle tho thingis.
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you.
9 Who knowith not that the hond of the Lord made alle these thingis?
Who does not know that in all these, the LORD’s hand has done this,
10 In whos hond the soule is of ech lyuynge thing, and the spirit, `that is, resonable soule, of ech fleisch of man.
in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
11 Whether the eere demeth not wordis, and the chekis of the etere demen sauour?
Does not the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
12 Wisdom is in elde men, and prudence is in myche tyme.
With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
13 Wisdom and strengthe is at God; he hath counsel and vndurstondyng.
“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
14 If he distrieth, no man is that bildith; if he schittith in a man, `noon is that openith.
Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
15 If he holdith togidere watris, alle thingis schulen be maad drie; if he sendith out tho watris, tho schulen distrie the erthe.
Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
16 Strengthe and wisdom is at God; he knowith bothe hym that disseyueth and hym that is disseyued.
With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 And he bryngith conselours in to a fonned eende, and iugis in to wondryng, ethir astonying.
He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
18 He vnbindith the girdil of kyngis, and girdith her reynes with a coorde.
He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.
19 He ledith her prestis with out glorie, and he disseyueth the principal men, `ethir counselours;
He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
20 and he chaungith the lippis of sothefast men, and takith awei the doctrine of elde men.
He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21 He schedith out dispisyng on princes, and releeueth hem, that weren oppressid.
He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
22 Which schewith depe thingis fro derknessis; and bryngith forth in to liyt the schadewe of deeth.
He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
23 Which multiplieth folkis, and leesith hem, and restorith hem destried in to the hool.
He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
24 Which chaungith the herte of princes of the puple of erthe; and disseyueth hem, that thei go in veyn out of the weie.
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 Thei schulen grope, as in derknessis, and not in liyt; and he schal make hem to erre as drunken men.
They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
