Job 12

1 Job replied,

And Job answered and said,

2 “You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will die with you!

Truly ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you!

3 But I too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?

I also have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; and who knoweth not such things as these?

4 But my friends laugh at me because I called on God and he answered me: the innocent man who does right has become an object of derision.

I am to be one that is a derision to his friend, I who call upon God, and whom he will answer: a derision is the just upright [man].

5 People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.

He that is ready to stumble with the foot is a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

6 Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’

The tents of desolators are in peace, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth.

7 But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowl of the heavens, and they shall tell thee;

8 ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9 Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?

Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this?

10 He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.

11 The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.

Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food?

12 Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.

With the aged is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.

13 God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.

With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.

14 If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.

Behold, he breaketh down, and it is not built again; he shutteth up a man, and there is no opening.

15 If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.

Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; and he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

16 He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.

With him is strength and effectual knowledge; the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.

He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools;

18 He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.

He weakeneth the government of kings, and bindeth their loins with a fetter;

19 He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.

He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty;

20 He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.

He depriveth of speech the trusty, and taketh away the judgment of the elders;

21 He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.

He poureth contempt upon nobles, and slackeneth the girdle of the mighty;

22 He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out into light the shadow of death;

23 He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.

He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he spreadeth out the nations, and bringeth them in;

24 He removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.

He taketh away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a pathless waste.

25 They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.

They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunkard.