איוב 12

1 ויען איוב ויאמר

And Job made answer and said,

2 אמנם כי אתם-עם ועמכם תמות חכמה

No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.

3 גם-לי לבב כמוכם--לא-נפל אנכי מכם ואת-מי-אין כמו-אלה

But I have a mind as well as you; I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?

4 שחק לרעהו אהיה--קרא לאלוה ויענהו שחוק צדיק תמים

It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!

5 לפיד בוז לעשתות שאנן-- נכון למועדי רגל

In the thought of him who is in comfort there is no respect for one who is in trouble; such is the fate of those whose feet are slipping.

6 ישליו אהלים לשדדים ובטחות למרגיזי אל-- לאשר הביא אלוה בידו

There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe; even those whose god is their strength.

7 ואולם--שאל-נא בהמות ותרך ועוף השמים ויגד-לך

But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;

8 או שיח לארץ ותרך ויספרו לך דגי הים

Or to the things which go flat on the earth, and they will give you wisdom; and the fishes of the sea will give you news of it.

9 מי לא-ידע בכל-אלה כי יד-יהוה עשתה זאת

Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10 אשר בידו נפש כל-חי ורוח כל-בשר-איש

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.

11 הלא-אזן מלין תבחן וחך אכל יטעם-לו

Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?

12 בישישים חכמה וארך ימים תבונה

Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.

13 עמו חכמה וגבורה לו עצה ותבונה

With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.

14 הן יהרוס ולא יבנה יסגר על-איש ולא יפתח

Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him; when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.

15 הן יעצר במים ויבשו וישלחם ויהפכו ארץ

Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.

16 עמו עז ותושיה לו שגג ומשגה

With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;

17 מוליך יועצים שולל ושפטים יהולל

He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;

18 מוסר מלכים פתח ויאסר אזור במתניהם

He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;

19 מוליך כהנים שולל ואתנים יסלף

He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;

20 מסיר שפה לנאמנים וטעם זקנים יקח

He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;

21 שופך בוז על-נדיבים ומזיח אפיקים רפה

He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;

22 מגלה עמקות מני-חשך ויצא לאור צלמות

Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;

23 משגיא לגוים ויאבדם שטח לגוים וינחם

Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.

24 מסיר--לב ראשי עם-הארץ ויתעם בתהו לא-דרך

He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.

25 ימששו-חשך ולא-אור ויתעם כשכור

They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.