Job 12

1 AND Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

“No doubt you are the people; wisdom will die with you.

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

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

4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

I am something for my neighbor to laugh at— I, one who called on God and who was answered by him! I, a just and blameless man—I am now something to laugh at.

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

In the thought of someone who is at ease, there is contempt for misfortune; he thinks in a way that brings more misfortune to those whose foot is slipping.

6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God feel secure; their own hands are their gods.

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you.

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

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

9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

Which animal among all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

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

Does not the ear test words just as the palate tastes its food?

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

With aged men is wisdom; in length of days is understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.

14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

See, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again; if he imprisons someone, there can be no release.

15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.

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

With him are strength and wisdom; people who are deceived and the deceiver are both in his power.

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

He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow; he turns judges into fools.

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

He takes off the chain of authority from kings; he wraps a cloth about their waists.

19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow and overthrows mighty people.

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

He removes the speech of those who had been trusted and takes away the understanding of the elders.

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

He pours contempt upon princes and unfastens the belt of strong people.

22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.

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

He makes nations strong, and he also destroys them; He enlarges nations, and he also leads them along as prisoners.

24 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.

He takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth; he causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.

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

They grope in the dark without light; he makes them stagger like a drunk man.