Job 12
1 Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Therfor ben ye men aloone, that wisdom dwelle with you?
Truly ye are indeed the [right kind of] people, and with you wisdom must die out.
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?
I also have sense like you; I do not fall short compared with you: and who possesseth not 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 as one laughed at by his friend, who calleth upon God, while he answered him: [yea, ] a laughing-stock though righteous and innocent.
5 A laumpe is dispisid at the thouytis of riche men, and the laumpe is maad redi to a tyme ordeyned.
To the unfortunate there is given contempt— according to the thoughts of him that is at ease— prepared [also] for those whose foot slippeth.
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.
Prosperous are the tents of robbers, and security is given to those that provoke God. to him who carrieth his god in his hand.
7 No wondur, ax thou beestis, and tho schulen teche thee; and axe thou volatilis of the eir, and tho schulen schewe to thee.
Yet, do only ask of the beasts, and they will instruct thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they will tell it thee;
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 she will instruct thee; and the fishes of the sea will inform thee
9 Who knowith not that the hond of the Lord made alle these thingis?
Who knoweth not through all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
10 In whos hond the soule is of ech lyuynge thing, and the spirit, `that is, resonable soule, of ech fleisch of man.
[He] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the bodies of men?
11 Whether the eere demeth not wordis, and the chekis of the etere demen sauour?
Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food for itself?
12 Wisdom is in elde men, and prudence is in myche tyme.
So It with the ancients wisdom, and with [those of] length of days understanding,
13 Wisdom and strengthe is at God; he hath counsel and vndurstondyng.
That with him are wisdom and strength, his are counsel and understanding.
14 If he distrieth, no man is that bildith; if he schittith in a man, `noon is that openith.
Behold, he pulleth down, and there can be no rebuilding: he locketh [the prison] upon a man, and there can be no opening,
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 restraineth the waters, and they dry up; or he suffereth them to flow, 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 are strength and counsel: his are the deceived and the deceiver.
17 And he bryngith conselours in to a fonned eende, and iugis in to wondryng, ethir astonying.
He leadeth counsellors away bereft of sense, and maketh the judges fools.
18 He vnbindith the girdil of kyngis, and girdith her reynes with a coorde.
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth a girdle around their loins.
19 He ledith her prestis with out glorie, and he disseyueth the principal men, `ethir counselours;
He leadeth priests away bereft of sense, and the powerful he causeth to walk on crooked paths.
20 and he chaungith the lippis of sothefast men, and takith awei the doctrine of elde men.
He removeth the speech from trusty speakers, and taketh away the intelligence of the aged.
21 He schedith out dispisyng on princes, and releeueth hem, that weren oppressid.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and the belt of the mighty be looseneth.
22 Which schewith depe thingis fro derknessis; and bryngith forth in to liyt the schadewe of deeth.
He layeth open deep things from the midst of darkness, and bringeth out unto light the shadow of death.
23 Which multiplieth folkis, and leesith hem, and restorith hem destried in to the hool.
He permitteth the nations to become great, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth out the nations, and leadeth them away.
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 taketh away the sense of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander astray in a wilderness when 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, and he causeth them to wander astray like a drunken man.
