Job 12
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
And Job made answer and said,
2 Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.
3 Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum: quis enim hæc, quæ nostis, ignorat?
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 Qui deridetur ab amico suo sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim iusti simplicitas.
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 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum, parata ad tempus statutum.
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 Abundant tabernacula prædonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
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 Nimirum interroga iumenta, et docebunt te: et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.
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 Loquere terræ, et respondebit tibi: et narrabunt pisces maris.
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 Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit?
Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In cuius manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universæ carnis hominis.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.
11 Nonne auris verba diiudicat, et fauces comedentis, saporem?
Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?
12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.
13 Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo, ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.
14 Si destruxerit, nemo est qui ædificet: si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
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 Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur: et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.
16 Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia: ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;
17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et iudices in stuporem.
He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.
He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;
19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;
20 Commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;
21 Effundit despectionem super principes, eos, qui oppressi fuerant, relevans.
He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;
22 Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;
23 Qui multiplicat gentes et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.
24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.
25 Palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.
They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.
