Job 12

1And Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24He 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.

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

Job Presents His Case

1Then Job answered:

2“Truly then you are the peoplewith whom wisdom itself will die! 3But I also have a mind;I am not inferior to you.Who does not know such things as these?

4I am a laughingstock to my friends,though I called on God, and He answered.The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock. 5The one at ease scorns misfortuneas the fate of those whose feet are slipping. 6The tents of robbers are safe,and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.footnote a

7But ask the animals, and they will instruct you;ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. 8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;let the fish of the sea inform you. 9Which of all these does not knowthat the hand of the LORD has done this? 10The life of every living thing is in His hand,as well as the breath of all mankind. 11Does not the ear test wordsas the tongue tastes its food? 12Wisdom is found with the elderly,and understanding comes with long life.

13Wisdom and strength belong to God;counsel and understanding are His. 14What He tears down cannot be rebuilt;the man He imprisons cannot be released. 15If He holds back the waters, they dry up,and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land. 16True wisdom and power belong to Him.The deceived and the deceiver are His. 17He leads counselors away barefootand makes fools of judges. 18He loosens the bonds placed by kingsand fastens a belt around their waists. 19He leads priests away barefootand overthrows the established. 20He deprives the trusted of speechand takes away the discernment of elders. 21He pours out contempt on noblesand disarms the mighty. 22He reveals the deep things of darknessand brings deep shadows into light. 23He makes nations great and destroys them;He enlarges nations, then disperses them. 24He deprives the earth’s leaders of reasonand makes them wander in a trackless wasteland. 25They grope in the darkness without light;He makes them stagger like drunkards.