Job 12
1 Respondens autem Job, dixit:
Then Job answered and said,
2 [Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
“No doubt you are the people; wisdom will die with you.
3 Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum; quis enim hæc quæ nostis ignorat?
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Indeed, who does not know such things as these?
4 Qui deridetur ab amico suo, sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim justi simplicitas.
I am something for my neighbor to laugh at— I, one who called on God and who was answered by him! I, a just and blameless man—I am now something to laugh at.
5 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum parata ad tempus statutum.
In the thought of someone who is at ease, there is contempt for misfortune; he thinks in a way that brings more misfortune to those whose foot is slipping.
6 Abundant tabernacula prædonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God feel secure; their own hands are their gods.
7 Nimirum interroga jumenta, et docebunt te; et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.
But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you.
8 Loquere terræ, et respondebit tibi, et narrabunt pisces maris.
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; the fish of the sea will declare to you.
9 Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit?
Which animal among all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?
10 In cujus manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universæ carnis hominis.
In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
11 Nonne auris verba dijudicat? et fauces comedentis, saporem?
Does not the ear test words just as the palate tastes its food?
12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
With aged men is wisdom; in length of days is understanding.
13 Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo; ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
14 Si destruxerit, nemo est qui ædificet; si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
See, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again; if he imprisons someone, there can be no release.
15 Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur; et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
16 Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia; ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
With him are strength and wisdom; people who are deceived and the deceiver are both in his power.
17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et judices in stuporem.
He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow; he turns judges into fools.
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.
He takes off the chain of authority from kings; he wraps a cloth about their waists.
19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow and overthrows mighty people.
20 commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
He removes the speech of those who had been trusted and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21 Effundit despectionem super principes, eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans.
He pours contempt upon princes and unfastens the belt of strong people.
22 Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
23 Qui multiplicat gentes, et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
He makes nations strong, and he also destroys them; He enlarges nations, and he also leads them along as prisoners.
24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
He takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth; he causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.
25 palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.]
They grope in the dark without light; he makes them stagger like a drunk man.
