Job 12
1 respondens autem Iob dixit
Then Job answered,
2 ergo vos estis soli homines et vobiscum morietur sapientia
“No doubt, but you are the people, and 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. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?
4 qui deridetur ab amico suo sicut ego invocabit Deum et exaudiet eum deridetur enim iusti simplicitas
I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
5 lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum parata ad tempus statutum
In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
6 abundant tabernacula praedonum et audacter provocant Deum cum ipse dederit omnia in manibus eorum
The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.
7 nimirum interroga iumenta et docebunt te et volatilia caeli et indicabunt tibi
“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, 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
Who doesn’t know that in all these, the LORD’s hand has done this,
10 in cuius manu anima omnis viventis et spiritus universae carnis hominis
in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
11 nonne auris verba diiudicat et fauces comedentis saporem
Doesn’t the ear try words, even 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 understanding.
13 apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo ipse habet consilium et intellegentiam
“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
14 si destruxerit nemo est qui aedificet et si incluserit hominem nullus est qui aperiat
Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
15 si continuerit aquas omnia siccabuntur et si emiserit eas subvertent terram
Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends 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 wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 adducit consiliarios in stultum finem et iudices in stuporem
He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
18 balteum regum dissolvit et praecingit fune renes eorum
He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.
19 ducit sacerdotes inglorios et optimates subplantat
He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
20 commutans labium veracium et doctrinam senum auferens
He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21 effundit despectionem super principes et eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans
He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
22 qui revelat profunda de tenebris et producit in lucem umbram mortis
He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
23 qui multiplicat gentes et perdet eas et subversas in integrum restituet
He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
24 qui inmutat cor principum populi terrae et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium
He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes 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. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
