Job 12
1 Respondens autem Job, dixit:
Job replied,
2 Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
“You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, 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 too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
4 Qui deridetur ab amico suo, sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim justi simplicitas.
But my friends laugh at me because I called on God and he answered me: the innocent man who does right has become an object of derision.
5 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum parata ad tempus statutum.
People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
6 Abundant tabernacula prædonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
7 Nimirum interroga jumenta, et docebunt te; et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.
But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
8 Loquere terræ, et respondebit tibi, et narrabunt pisces maris.
ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
9 Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit?
Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
10 In cujus manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universæ carnis hominis.
He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
11 Nonne auris verba dijudicat? et fauces comedentis, saporem?
The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
13 Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo; ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
14 Si destruxerit, nemo est qui ædificet; si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
15 Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur; et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
16 Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia; ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et judices in stuporem.
He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.
He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
20 commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
21 Effundit despectionem super principes, eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans.
He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
22 Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
23 Qui multiplicat gentes, et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
He removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
25 palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.
They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
