Job 12

1 Then Job answered,

When Job answered, and said:

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

Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom 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?

I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know?

4 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.

He that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.

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

The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.

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

The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:

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 air, 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.

Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.

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

Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?

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 spirit of all flesh of man.

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

Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?

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

In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.

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

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath 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.

If he pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a. man, there is none that can open.

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

If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.

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

With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.

17 He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.

He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.

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

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

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

He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.

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

He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.

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

He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.

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

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up 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 multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.

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 changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way.

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

They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.