Job 12
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
And Job answered and said,
2 Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
So then ye [alone] are men, and wisdom shall die with you?
3 Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum: quis enim haec, quae nostis, ignorat?
[But] I also have a heart as well as you.
4 Qui deridetur ab amico suo sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim iusti simplicitas.
For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.
5 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum, parata ad tempus statutum.
For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be [held] guiltless,
6 Abundant tabernacula praedonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.
7 Nimirum interroga iumenta, et docebunt te: et volatilia caeli, et indicabunt tibi.
But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to thee; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to thee.
8 Loquere terrae, et respondebit tibi: et narrabunt pisces maris.
Tell the earth, if it may speak to thee: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to thee.
9 Quis ignorat quod omnia haec manus Domini fecerit?
Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?
10 In cuius manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universae carnis hominis.
Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.
11 Nonne auris verba diiudicat, et fauces comedentis, saporem?
For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.
12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.
13 Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo, ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.
14 Si destruxerit, nemo est qui aedificet: si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?
15 Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur: et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.
16 Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia: ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.
17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et iudices in stuporem.
He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et praecingit fune renes eorum.
He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.
19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.
20 Commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.
21 Effundit despectionem super principes, eos, qui oppressi fuerant, relevans.
He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.
22 Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.
23 Qui multiplicat gentes et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].
24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terrae, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, [saying],
25 Palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.
Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.
