Job 12

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said:

2 “No doubt you are the people; 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. Indeed, 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 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.

I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon God, and He answered him; the just, the innocent man is a laughing-stock,

5 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.

A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.

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

The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.

7 But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the heavens, 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 Which animal among all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?

Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

10 In his 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 test words just as the palate tastes its food?

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

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

Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days? —

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

With Him is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.

14 See, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again; if he imprisons someone, 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 See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.

Behold, He withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also He sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

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

With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.

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

He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.

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

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

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

He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.

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

He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.

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

He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.

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

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

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

He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.

24 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.

He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land, 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 drunk man.

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