Job 12

1 And Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

“No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.

3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?

4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

I am like one who is a joke to his neighbour, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.

5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.

6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.

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

Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you.

9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of Yhwh hath wrought this?

Who doesn’t know that in all these, the LORD’s hand has done this,

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?

11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?

12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

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

Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.

16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

He leads counsellors away stripped. He makes judges fools.

18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.

He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.

19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.

21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.

22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.

23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.

24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

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

They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.