Job 12
1 Respondens autem Job, dixit:
Then Job answered,
2 Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
“No doubt, but you are the people, and 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 have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?
4 Qui deridetur ab amico suo, sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim justi simplicitas.
I am like one who is a joke to his neighbour, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
5 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum parata ad tempus statutum.
In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
6 Abundant tabernacula prædonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.
7 Nimirum interroga jumenta, et docebunt te; et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.
“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
8 Loquere terræ, et respondebit tibi, et narrabunt pisces maris.
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you.
9 Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit?
Who doesn’t know that in all these, the LORD’s hand has done this,
10 In cujus manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universæ carnis hominis.
in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
11 Nonne auris verba dijudicat? et fauces comedentis, saporem?
Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
13 Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo; ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
14 Si destruxerit, nemo est qui ædificet; si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
15 Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur; et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends 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 judices in stuporem.
He leads counsellors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.
He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.
19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
20 commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21 Effundit despectionem super principes, eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans.
He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
22 Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
23 Qui multiplicat gentes, et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes 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. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
