Job 12
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
Then Job answered:
2 Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
“Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!
3 Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum: quis enim haec, quae nostis, ignorat?
But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?
4 Qui deridetur ab amico suo sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim iusti simplicitas.
I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.
5 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum, parata ad tempus statutum.
The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6 Abundant tabernacula praedonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure— those who carry their god in their hands.
7 Nimirum interroga iumenta, et docebunt te: et volatilia caeli, et indicabunt tibi.
But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
8 Loquere terrae, et respondebit tibi: et narrabunt pisces maris.
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.
9 Quis ignorat quod omnia haec manus Domini fecerit?
Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
10 In cuius manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universae carnis hominis.
The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
11 Nonne auris verba diiudicat, et fauces comedentis, saporem?
Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?
12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.
13 Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo, ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
14 Si destruxerit, nemo est qui aedificet: si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
15 Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur: et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.
16 Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia: ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et iudices in stuporem.
He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges.
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et praecingit fune renes eorum.
He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists.
19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows the established.
20 Commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.
21 Effundit despectionem super principes, eos, qui oppressi fuerant, relevans.
He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
22 Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.
23 Qui multiplicat gentes et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terrae, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
25 Palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.
They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.
