Job 12
1 Respondens autem Job, 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 justi simplicitas.
I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, [a man] that called upon God, and he answered him: 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 jumenta, et docebunt te; et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, 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 LORD hath wrought this?
10 In cujus 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 dijudicat? et fauces comedentis, saporem?
Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its meat?
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 him 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 effectual working; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et judices in stuporem.
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools.
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
He leadeth priests away spoiled, 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 discovereth 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 destroyeth them: he spreadeth the nations abroad, and bringeth them in.
24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
He taketh away the heart of 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.
