Job 12

1 Then Iob answered, and sayde,

And Job answered and said,

2 In deede because that ye are the people onely, wisedome must dye with you.

Truly ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you!

3 But I haue vnderstanding aswel as you, and am not inferior vnto you: yea, who knoweth not such things?

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 of his neighbour, who calleth vpon God, and he heareth him: the iust and the vpright is laughed to scorne.

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 Hee that is readie to fall, is as a lampe despised in the opinion of the riche.

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

6 The tabernacles of robbers doe prosper, and they are in safetie, that prouoke God, whome God hath enriched with his hand.

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

7 Aske now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the foules of the heauen, 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 speake to the earth, and it shall shewe thee: or the fishes of the sea, and they shall declare vnto thee.

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

9 Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hande of the Lord hath made these?

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

10 In whose hande is the soule of euery liuing thing, and the breath of all mankinde.

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

11 Doeth not the eares discerne the words? and the mouth taste meate for it selfe?

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

12 Among the ancient is wisedome, and in the length of dayes is vnderstanding.

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

13 With him is wisedome and strength: he hath counsell and vnderstanding.

With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.

14 Beholde, he will breake downe, and it can not be built: he shutteth a man vp, and he can not be loosed.

Behold, he breaketh down, and it is not built again; he shutteth up a man, and there is no opening.

15 Beholde, he withholdeth the waters, and they drie vp: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy 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 wisedome: hee that is deceiued, and that deceiueth, are his.

With him is strength and effectual knowledge; the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He causeth the counsellers to goe as spoyled, and maketh the iudges fooles.

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

18 He looseth the collar of Kings, and girdeth their loynes with a girdle.

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

19 He leadeth away the princes as a pray, and ouerthroweth the mightie.

He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty;

20 He taketh away the speach from the faithfull counsellers, and taketh away the iudgement of the ancient.

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

21 He powreth contempt vpon princes, and maketh the strength of the mightie weake.

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

22 He discouereth the deepe places from their darkenesse, and bringeth foorth the shadowe of death to light.

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

23 He increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he inlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in againe.

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

24 He taketh away the heartes of the that are the chiefe ouer the people of the earth, and maketh them to wander in the wildernes out of the 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 darke without light: and he maketh the to stagger like a drunken man.

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