Job 12
1 And Job made answer and said,
Respondens autem Job, dixit:
2 No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.
Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?
3 But I have a mind as well as you; I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?
Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum; quis enim hæc quæ nostis ignorat?
4 It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!
Qui deridetur ab amico suo, sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim justi simplicitas.
5 In the thought of him who is in comfort there is no respect for one who is in trouble; such is the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum parata ad tempus statutum.
6 There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe; even those whose god is their strength.
Abundant tabernacula prædonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
7 But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;
Nimirum interroga jumenta, et docebunt te; et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.
8 Or to the things which go flat on the earth, and they will give you wisdom; and the fishes of the sea will give you news of it.
Loquere terræ, et respondebit tibi, et narrabunt pisces maris.
9 Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?
Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.
In cujus manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universæ carnis hominis.
11 Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?
Nonne auris verba dijudicat? et fauces comedentis, saporem?
12 Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.
In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
13 With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.
Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo; ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
14 Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him; when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.
Si destruxerit, nemo est qui ædificet; si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
15 Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.
Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur; et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
16 With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;
Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia; ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
17 He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;
Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et judices in stuporem.
18 He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;
Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.
19 He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;
Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:
20 He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;
commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
21 He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;
Effundit despectionem super principes, eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans.
22 Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;
Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
23 Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.
Qui multiplicat gentes, et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
24 He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.
Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:
25 They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.
palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.
