Job 12
1 respondens autem Iob dixit
And Job answers and says:
2 ergo vos estis soli homines et vobiscum morietur sapientia
“Truly—you [are] the people, and wisdom dies with you.
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
I am a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers 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 manibus eorum
The tents of spoilers are at peace, And those provoking God have confidence, Into whose hand God has brought.
7 nimirum interroga iumenta et docebunt te et volatilia caeli et indicabunt tibi
And yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, And it shows you, And a bird of the heavens, And it declares to you.
8 loquere terrae et respondebit tibi et narrabunt pisces maris
Or talk to the earth, and it shows you, And fishes of the sea recount to you:
9 quis ignorat quod omnia haec manus Domini fecerit
Who has not known in all these, That the hand of YHWH has 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
Does the ear not 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 [is] understanding.
13 apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo ipse habet consilium et intellegentiam
With Him [are] wisdom and might, To Him [are] counsel and understanding.
14 si destruxerit nemo est qui aedificet et si incluserit hominem nullus est qui aperiat
Behold, He breaks down, and it is not built up, He shuts against a man, And it is not opened.
15 si continuerit aquas omnia siccabuntur et si emiserit eas subvertent terram
Behold, He keeps in the waters, and they are dried up, And He sends 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 counselors to go away [as] a spoil, Indeed, He makes fools of judges.
18 balteum regum dissolvit et praecingit fune renes eorum
He has opened the bands of kings, And He binds a girdle on their loins.
19 ducit sacerdotes inglorios et optimates subplantat
Causing ministers to go away [as] a spoil And strong ones He overthrows.
20 commutans labium veracium et doctrinam senum auferens
Turning aside the lip of the steadfast, And the reason of the aged He takes away.
21 effundit despectionem super principes et eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans
Pouring contempt on 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 brings out to light death-shade.
23 qui multiplicat gentes et perdet eas et subversas in integrum restituet
Magnifying the nations, and He destroys them, Spreading out the nations, and He quiets them.
24 qui inmutat 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 causes 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 causes them to wander as a drunkard.”
