Job 12
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
And Job answereth and saith: —
2 Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
Truly — ye [are] the people, And with you doth wisdom die.
3 Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum: quis enim haec, quae nostis, ignorat?
I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?
4 Qui deridetur ab amico suo sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim iusti simplicitas.
A laughter to his friend I am: 'He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.
5 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum, parata ad tempus statutum.
A torch — despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
6 Abundant tabernacula praedonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.
7 Nimirum interroga iumenta, et docebunt te: et volatilia caeli, et indicabunt tibi.
And yet, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.
8 Loquere terrae, et respondebit tibi: et narrabunt pisces maris.
Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:
9 Quis ignorat quod omnia haec manus Domini fecerit?
'Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?
10 In cuius manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universae carnis hominis.
In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.'
11 Nonne auris verba diiudicat, et fauces comedentis, saporem?
Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?
12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days understanding.
13 Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo, ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.
14 Si destruxerit, nemo est qui aedificet: si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.
15 Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur: et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.
16 Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia: ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.
17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et iudices in stuporem.
Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.
18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et praecingit fune renes eorum.
The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.
19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.
20 Commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.
21 Effundit despectionem super principes, eos, qui oppressi fuerant, relevans.
Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
22 Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.
23 Qui multiplicat gentes et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.
24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terrae, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy — no way!
25 Palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.
They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.
