Job 12

1Then Job answered, and said:

1And Job made answer and said,

2Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you?

2No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.

3I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know?

3But I have a mind as well as you; I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?

4He that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.

4It 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!

5The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.

5In 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.

6The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:

6There 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.

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

7But 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;

8Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.

8Or 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.

9Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?

9Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.

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

11Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?

11Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?

12In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.

12Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.

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

13With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.

14If he pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a man, there is none that can open.

14Truly, 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.

15If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.

15Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.

16With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceivers, and him that is deceived.

16With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;

17He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.

17He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;

18He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.

18He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;

19He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.

19He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;

20He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.

20He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;

21He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.

21He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;

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

22Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;

23He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.

23Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.

24He changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way.

24He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.

25They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.

25They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.