Job 12

1 And Job answereth and saith: —

And Job answered and said,

2 Truly — ye [are] the people, And with you doth wisdom die.

So then ye [alone] are men, and wisdom shall die with you?

3 I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?

[But] I also have a heart as well as you.

4 A laughter to his friend I am: 'He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.

5 A torch — despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.

For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be [held] guiltless,

6 At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.

even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.

7 And yet, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.

But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to thee; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to thee.

8 Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:

Tell the earth, if it may speak to thee: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to thee.

9 'Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?

Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?

10 In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.'

Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.

11 Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.

12 With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days understanding.

In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.

13 With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.

With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.

14 Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.

If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?

15 Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.

If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.

16 With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.

With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.

17 Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.

He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.

18 The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.

He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.

19 Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.

He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.

20 Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.

He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.

21 Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.

He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.

22 Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.

Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.

23 Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.

Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].

24 Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy — no way!

Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, [saying],

25 They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.

Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.