Job 12
1 Respondens autem Iob, 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 haec, quae 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 iusti 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 innocent man is a laughing-stock,
5 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum, parata ad tempus statutum.
A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.
6 Abundant tabernacula praedonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.
7 Nimirum interroga iumenta, et docebunt te: et volatilia caeli, 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 terrae, 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 haec manus Domini fecerit?
Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
10 In cuius manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universae carnis hominis.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. —
11 Nonne auris verba diiudicat, et fauces comedentis, saporem?
Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?
12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days? —
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 aedificet: 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; also 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 sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et iudices in stuporem.
He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et praecingit 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 stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 Commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense 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 uncovereth 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 enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.
24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terrae, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land, 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.
