Job 12
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
Truly ye are indeed the [right kind of] people, and with you wisdom must die out.
3 Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum: quis enim haec, quae nostis, ignorat?
I also have sense like you; I do not fall short compared with you: and who possesseth 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 laughed at by his friend, who calleth upon God, while he answered him: [yea, ] a laughing-stock though righteous and innocent.
5 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum, parata ad tempus statutum.
To the unfortunate there is given contempt— according to the thoughts of him that is at ease— prepared [also] for those whose foot slippeth.
6 Abundant tabernacula praedonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
Prosperous are the tents of robbers, and security is given to those that provoke God. to him who carrieth his god in his hand.
7 Nimirum interroga iumenta, et docebunt te: et volatilia caeli, et indicabunt tibi.
Yet, do only ask of the beasts, and they will instruct thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they will tell it thee;
8 Loquere terrae, et respondebit tibi: et narrabunt pisces maris.
Or speak to the earth, and she will instruct thee; and the fishes of the sea will inform thee
9 Quis ignorat quod omnia haec manus Domini fecerit?
Who knoweth not through all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
10 In cuius manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universae carnis hominis.
[He] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the bodies of men?
11 Nonne auris verba diiudicat, et fauces comedentis, saporem?
Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food for itself?
12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
So It with the ancients wisdom, and with [those of] length of days understanding,
13 Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo, ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
That with him are wisdom and strength, his are counsel and understanding.
14 Si destruxerit, nemo est qui aedificet: si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
Behold, he pulleth down, and there can be no rebuilding: he locketh [the prison] upon a man, and there can be no opening,
15 Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur: et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
Behold, he restraineth the waters, and they dry up; or he suffereth them to flow, and they overturn the earth.
16 Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia: ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
With him are strength and counsel: his are the deceived and the deceiver.
17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et iudices in stuporem.
He leadeth counsellors away bereft of sense, and maketh the judges fools.
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et praecingit fune renes eorum.
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth a girdle around their loins.
19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
He leadeth priests away bereft of sense, and the powerful he causeth to walk on crooked paths.
20 Commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
He removeth the speech from trusty speakers, and taketh away the intelligence of the aged.
21 Effundit despectionem super principes, eos, qui oppressi fuerant, relevans.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and the belt of the mighty be looseneth.
22 Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
He layeth open deep things from the midst of darkness, and bringeth out unto light the shadow of death.
23 Qui multiplicat gentes et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
He permitteth the nations to become great, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth out 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 sense of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander astray in a wilderness when 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 causeth them to wander astray like a drunken man.
