Job 12
1Then Job answered and said, 1
2“No doubt you are the people; 1 wisdom will die with you. 1
3But I have understanding as well as you; 1 I am not inferior to you. 1 Indeed, who does not know such things as these? 1
4I am something for my neighbor to laugh at— 1 I, one who called on God and who was answered by him! 1 I, a just and blameless man—I am now something to laugh at. 1
5In the thought of someone who is at ease, there is contempt for misfortune; 1 he thinks in a way that brings more misfortune to those whose foot is slipping. 1
6The tents of robbers prosper, 1 and those who provoke God feel secure; 1 their own hands are their gods. 1
7But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; 1 ask the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you. 1
8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; 1 the fish of the sea will declare to you. 1
9Which animal among all these does not know 1 that the hand of Yahweh has done this? 1
10In his hand is the life of every living thing 1 and the breath of all mankind. 1
11Does not the ear test words 1 just as the palate tastes its food? 1
12With aged men is wisdom; 1 in length of days is understanding. 1
13With God are wisdom and might; 1 he has counsel and understanding. 1
14See, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again; 1 if he imprisons someone, there can be no release. 1
15See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; 1 and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. 1
16With him are strength and wisdom; 1 people who are deceived and the deceiver are both in his power. 1
17He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow; 1 he turns judges into fools. 1
18He takes off the chain of authority from kings; 1 he wraps a cloth about their waists. 1
19He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow 1 and overthrows mighty people. 1
20He removes the speech of those who had been trusted 1 and takes away the understanding of the elders. 1
21He pours contempt upon princes 1 and unfastens the belt of strong people. 1
22He reveals the deep things of darkness 1 and brings deep shadows into the light. 1
23He makes nations strong, and he also destroys them; 1 He enlarges nations, and he also leads them along as prisoners. 1
24He takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth; 1 he causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path. 1
25They grope in the dark without light; 1 he makes them stagger like a drunk man.