< Job 12 >
1 And Job answereth and saith: —
And Job answers and says:
2 Truly — ye [are] the people, And with you doth wisdom die.
“Truly—you [are] the people, and wisdom dies 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?
I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?
4 A laughter to his friend I am: 'He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.
I am a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers him, A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.
5 A torch — despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
A torch—despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
6 At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.
The tents of spoilers are at peace, And those provoking God have confidence, Into whose hand God has brought.
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.
And yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, And it shows you, And a bird of the heavens, And it declares to you.
8 Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:
Or talk to the earth, and it shows you, And fishes of the sea recount to you:
9 'Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?
Who has not known in all these, That the hand of YHWH has done this?
10 In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.'
In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.
11 Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?
Does the ear not try words? And the palate taste food for itself?
12 With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days understanding.
With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days [is] understanding.
13 With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.
With Him [are] wisdom and might, To Him [are] counsel and understanding.
14 Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.
Behold, He breaks down, and it is not built up, He shuts against a man, And it is not opened.
15 Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.
Behold, He keeps in the waters, and they are dried up, And He sends them forth, And they overturn the land.
16 With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.
With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.
17 Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.
Causing counselors to go away [as] a spoil, Indeed, He makes fools of judges.
18 The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.
He has opened the bands of kings, And He binds a girdle on their loins.
19 Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.
Causing ministers to go away [as] a spoil And strong ones He overthrows.
20 Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.
Turning aside the lip of the steadfast, And the reason of the aged He takes away.
21 Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
Pouring contempt on princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
22 Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.
Removing deep things out of darkness, And He brings out to light death-shade.
23 Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.
Magnifying the nations, and He destroys them, Spreading out the nations, and He quiets them.
24 Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy — no way!
Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And He causes them to wander In vacancy—no way!
25 They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.
They feel darkness, and not light, He causes them to wander as a drunkard.”