Job 12
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
Then Job answered and said,
2 Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
No doubt but ye are the people, And wisdom shall 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: Yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4 Qui deridetur ab amico suo sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim iusti simplicitas.
I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
5 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum, parata ad tempus statutum.
In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; It is ready for them whose foot slippeth.
6 Abundant tabernacula prædonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].
7 Nimirum interroga iumenta, et docebunt te: et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; And the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee:
8 Loquere terræ, et respondebit tibi: et narrabunt pisces maris.
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9 Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit?
Who knoweth not in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought 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 mankind?
11 Nonne auris verba diiudicat, et fauces comedentis, saporem?
Doth not the ear try words, Even as the palate tasteth its food?
12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
With aged men is wisdom, And in length of days understanding.
13 Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo, ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
With [God] is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.
14 Si destruxerit, nemo est qui ædificet: si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur: et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16 Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia: ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
With him is strength and wisdom; The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et iudices in stuporem.
He leadeth counsellors away stripped, And judges maketh he fools.
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.
He looseth the bond of kings, And he bindeth their loins with a girdle.
19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
He leadeth priests away stripped, And overthroweth the mighty.
20 Commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
He removeth the speech of the trusty, And taketh away the understanding of the elders.
21 Effundit despectionem super principes, eos, qui oppressi fuerant, relevans.
He poureth contempt upon princes, And looseth the belt of the strong.
22 Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, And bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23 Qui multiplicat gentes et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
He increaseth the nations, and he destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and he leadeth them captive.
24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
He taketh away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25 Palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.
They grope in the dark without light; And he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
