Job 12
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
And Job answers and says:
2 Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
“Truly—you [are] the people, and wisdom dies with you.
3 Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum: quis enim hæc, quæ nostis, ignorat?
I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?
4 Qui deridetur ab amico suo sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim iusti simplicitas.
I am a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers him, A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.
5 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum, parata ad tempus statutum.
A torch—despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
6 Abundant tabernacula prædonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
The tents of spoilers are at peace, And those provoking God have confidence, Into whose hand God has brought.
7 Nimirum interroga iumenta, et docebunt te: et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.
And yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, And it shows you, And a bird of the heavens, And it declares to you.
8 Loquere terræ, et respondebit tibi: et narrabunt pisces maris.
Or talk to the earth, and it shows you, And fishes of the sea recount to you:
9 Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit?
Who has not known in all these, That the hand of YHWH has done this?
10 In cuius manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universæ carnis hominis.
In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.
11 Nonne auris verba diiudicat, et fauces comedentis, saporem?
Does the ear not try words? And the palate taste food for itself?
12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days [is] understanding.
13 Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo, ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
With Him [are] wisdom and might, To Him [are] counsel and understanding.
14 Si destruxerit, nemo est qui ædificet: si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
Behold, He breaks down, and it is not built up, He shuts against a man, And it is not opened.
15 Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur: et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
Behold, He keeps in the waters, and they are dried up, And He sends them forth, And they overturn the land.
16 Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia: ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.
17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et iudices in stuporem.
Causing counselors to go away [as] a spoil, Indeed, He makes fools of judges.
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.
He has opened the bands of kings, And He binds a girdle on their loins.
19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
Causing ministers to go away [as] a spoil And strong ones He overthrows.
20 Commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
Turning aside the lip of the steadfast, And the reason of the aged He takes away.
21 Effundit despectionem super principes, eos, qui oppressi fuerant, relevans.
Pouring contempt on princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
22 Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
Removing deep things out of darkness, And He brings out to light death-shade.
23 Qui multiplicat gentes et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
Magnifying the nations, and He destroys them, Spreading out the nations, and He quiets them.
24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And He causes them to wander In vacancy—no way!
25 Palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.
They feel darkness, and not light, He causes them to wander as a drunkard.”
