Job 12

1 Then Job answered,

Then Job answered and said,

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

No doubt but 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. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?

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

4 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.

I am as a man who is a laughing-stock to his neighbor. I who called upon God, and he answered. The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

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

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

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

The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure. Into whose hand God brings abundantly.

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

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee.

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

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

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

Who does not know in all these, that the hand of Jehovah has wrought this,

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

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

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

Does not the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?

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

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

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

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

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

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

15 Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends 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 leads counsellors away stripped. He makes judges fools.

He leads counselors away stripped, and he makes judges fools.

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

He loosens the bond of kings, and he binds their loins with a belt.

19 He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

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

He removes the speech of the trustworthy, and takes away the understanding of the elders.

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

He pours contempt upon rulers, and weakens the strength of the strong.

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

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

24 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.

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. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

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