Job 12

1 Then Job answered and said,

And Job answered and said,

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

So then ye [alone] are men, and wisdom shall 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 also have a heart as well as you.

4 I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, [a man] that called upon God, and he answered him: the just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.

5 In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for them whose foot slippeth.

For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be [held] guiltless,

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

even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.

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

But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to thee; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to thee.

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

Tell the earth, if it may speak to thee: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to thee.

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

Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?

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

Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.

11 Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its meat?

For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.

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

In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.

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

With him are wisdom and power, with him 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.

If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?

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

If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.

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

With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.

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

He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.

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

He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.

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

He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.

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

He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.

21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.

He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.

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

Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.

23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth the nations abroad, and bringeth them in.

Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].

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

Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, [saying],

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

Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.