Job 12
1 Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,
Then Job answered and said,
2 Therfor ben ye men aloone, that wisdom dwelle with you?
No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall 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: yea, who knoweth 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 that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, [a man] that called upon God, and he answered him: the just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
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 that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for them 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.
The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].
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 now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell 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 it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9 Who knowith not that the hond of the Lord made alle these thingis?
Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of 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.
In whose hand is the soul 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?
Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its meat?
12 Wisdom is in elde men, and prudence is in myche tyme.
With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
13 Wisdom and strengthe is at God; he hath counsel and vndurstondyng.
With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.
14 If he distrieth, no man is that bildith; if he schittith in a man, `noon is that openith.
Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; he shutteth up 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 withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; again, he sendeth 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 effectual working; 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 leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools.
18 He vnbindith the girdil of kyngis, and girdith her reynes with a coorde.
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
19 He ledith her prestis with out glorie, and he disseyueth the principal men, `ethir counselours;
He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 and he chaungith the lippis of sothefast men, and takith awei the doctrine of elde men.
He removeth the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the elders.
21 He schedith out dispisyng on princes, and releeueth hem, that weren oppressid.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
22 Which schewith depe thingis fro derknessis; and bryngith forth in to liyt the schadewe of deeth.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23 Which multiplieth folkis, and leesith hem, and restorith hem destried in to the hool.
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth the nations abroad, and bringeth them in.
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 heart of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth 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, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
