Job 12

1 And Job answered and said,

And Job answered and said,

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

Truly ye 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 knoweth not such things as these?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, and they shall teach thee; and the fowl of the heavens, and they shall tell thee;

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

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

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

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

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

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

11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste its food?

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

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

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

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

With him is wisdom and might; he hath 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 breaketh down, and it is not built again; he shutteth up a man, and there is no opening.

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

Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; and he sendeth 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 effectual knowledge; the deceived and the deceiver are his.

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

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

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

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

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

He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty;

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

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

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

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

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

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

23 He increaseth nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth nations, and leadeth them away.

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

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

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