Job 12

1 And Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

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

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

3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knows 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 calls upon God, and he answers him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

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 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 brings 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 you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you:

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

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

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

9 Who knows not in all these that the hand of the LORD has wrought this?

Who doesn't know that in all these, the hand of the LORD 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 humankind?

11 Does not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his food?

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 has counsel and understanding.

"With him is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

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

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

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

Look, 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 leads counsellors away spoiled, and makes the judges fools.

He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.

18 He looses the bond of kings, and girds their loins with a girdle.

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

19 He leads princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty.

He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

20 He removes away the speech of the trusty, and takes 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 pours contempt upon princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty.

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

22 He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings 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 increases the nations, and destroys them: he enlarges the nations, and straitens them again.

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

24 He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes 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 makes them to stagger like a drunken man.

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