Job 12
1
Then Job answered and said,
2
No doubt but you are the people, And wisdom shall die with you.
3
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: Yea, who knows
not such things as these?
4
I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he
answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
5
In the thought of him whom is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; It is
ready for them whose foot slips.
6
The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand
God brings [abundantly].
7
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; And the birds of the heavens, and
they shall tell you:
8
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you; And the fishes of the sea shall declare
to you.
9
Who knows not in all these, That the hand of YHWH has wrought this,
10
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?
11
Does not the ear try words, Even as the palate tastes its food?
12
With aged men is wisdom, And in length of days understanding.
13
With [God] is wisdom and might; He has counsel and understanding.
14
Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again; He shuts up a man, and there
can be no opening.
15
Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sends them out, and they
overturn the earth.
16
With him is strength and wisdom; The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17
He leads counsellors away stripped, And judges makes he fools.
18
He looses the bond of kings, And he binds their loins with a girdle.
19
He leads priests away stripped, And overthrows the mighty.
20
He removes the speech of the trusty, And takes away the understanding of the elders.
21
He pours contempt upon princes, And looses the belt of the strong.
22
He uncovers deep things out of darkness, And brings out to light the shadow of death.
23
He increases the nations, and he destroys them: He enlarges the nations, and he leads
them captive.
24
He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And
causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25
They grope in the dark without light; And he makes them to stagger like a drunken
man.