Chapter 12

And Job answered⁴ and said,⁴

No doubt but ye [are] the people, and wisdom shall die⁴ with you.

But I have understanding as well as you; I [am] not inferior⁶ to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

I am [as] one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth⁶ upon God, and he answereth⁴ him: the just upright [man is] laughed to scorn.

He that is ready¹² to slip⁶ with [his] feet [is as] a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

The tabernacles of robbers⁶ prosper,⁴ and they that provoke⁵⁶ God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth⁵² [abundantly].

But ask³ now the beasts, and they shall teach⁵⁵ thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell⁵⁵ thee:

Or speak³ to the earth, and it shall teach⁵⁵ thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare¹⁷ unto thee.

Who knoweth¹ not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought¹ this?

In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. ¹³²⁰

Doth not the ear try⁴ words? and the mouth taste⁴ his meat?

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

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

Behold, he breaketh down,⁴ and it cannot be built¹¹ again: he shutteth⁴ up a man, and there can be no opening.¹¹

Behold, he withholdeth⁴ the waters, and they dry up:⁴ also he sendeth them out,¹⁷ and they overturn⁴ the earth.

With him [is] strength and wisdom: the deceived⁶ and the deceiver⁵⁶ [are] his.

He leadeth⁵⁶ counsellors⁶ away spoiled, and maketh the judges⁶ fools.²⁵

He looseth¹⁴ the bond of kings, and girdeth⁴ their loins with a girdle.

He leadeth⁵⁶ princes away spoiled, and overthroweth¹⁷ the mighty.

He removeth away⁵⁶ the speech of the trusty,¹² and taketh away⁴ the understanding of the aged.

He poureth⁶ contempt upon princes, and weakeneth¹⁴ the strength of the mighty.

He discovereth¹⁸ deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out⁵⁵ to light the shadow of death.

He increaseth⁵⁶ the nations, and destroyeth¹⁷ them: he enlargeth⁶ the nations, and straiteneth⁵⁵ them [again].

He taketh away⁵⁶ the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander⁵⁵ in a wilderness [where there is] no way.

They grope¹⁷ in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger⁵⁵ like [a] drunken [man].