Job 12

1 Then Job answered,

And 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 does not know such things as these?

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

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.

I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon Eloah, and he answereth him: the just upright 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.

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

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

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke El are secure; into whose hand Eloah bringeth 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 fowls 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.

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

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

Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of YHWH hath 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 Does not the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?

Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

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

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

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 cannot be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth 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 withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also 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 wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

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

He leadeth counsellers away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

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

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

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

He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

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

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

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

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

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 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 increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

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 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.

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 maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.