Job 12
1 respondens autem Iob dixit
Then Job answered and said,
2 ergo vos estis soli homines et vobiscum morietur sapientia
“No doubt you are the people; wisdom will 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. Indeed, who does not know such things as these?
4 qui deridetur ab amico suo sicut ego invocabit Deum et exaudiet eum deridetur enim iusti simplicitas
I am something for my neighbor to laugh at— I, one who called on God and who was answered by him! I, a just and blameless man—I am now something to laugh at.
5 lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum parata ad tempus statutum
In the thought of someone who is at ease, there is contempt for misfortune; he thinks in a way that brings more misfortune to those whose foot is slipping.
6 abundant tabernacula praedonum et audacter provocant Deum cum ipse dederit omnia in manibus eorum
The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God feel secure; their own hands are their gods.
7 nimirum interroga iumenta et docebunt te et volatilia caeli et indicabunt tibi
But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you.
8 loquere terrae et respondebit tibi et narrabunt pisces maris
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; the fish of the sea will declare to you.
9 quis ignorat quod omnia haec manus Domini fecerit
Which animal among all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?
10 in cuius manu anima omnis viventis et spiritus universae carnis hominis
In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
11 nonne auris verba diiudicat et fauces comedentis saporem
Does not the ear test words just as the palate tastes its food?
12 in antiquis est sapientia et in multo tempore prudentia
With aged men is wisdom; in length of days is understanding.
13 apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo ipse habet consilium et intellegentiam
With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
14 si destruxerit nemo est qui aedificet et si incluserit hominem nullus est qui aperiat
See, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again; if he imprisons someone, there can be no release.
15 si continuerit aquas omnia siccabuntur et si emiserit eas subvertent terram
See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
16 apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia ipse novit et decipientem et eum qui decipitur
With him are strength and wisdom; people who are deceived and the deceiver are both in his power.
17 adducit consiliarios in stultum finem et iudices in stuporem
He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow; he turns judges into fools.
18 balteum regum dissolvit et praecingit fune renes eorum
He takes off the chain of authority from kings; he wraps a cloth about their waists.
19 ducit sacerdotes inglorios et optimates subplantat
He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow and overthrows mighty people.
20 commutans labium veracium et doctrinam senum auferens
He removes the speech of those who had been trusted and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21 effundit despectionem super principes et eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans
He pours contempt upon princes and unfastens the belt of strong people.
22 qui revelat profunda de tenebris et producit in lucem umbram mortis
He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
23 qui multiplicat gentes et perdet eas et subversas in integrum restituet
He makes nations strong, and he also destroys them; He enlarges nations, and he also leads them along as prisoners.
24 qui inmutat cor principum populi terrae et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium
He takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth; he causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.
25 palpabunt quasi in tenebris et non in luce et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios
They grope in the dark without light; he makes them stagger like a drunk man.
