12:1 And Job answered and said,
12:2 So then ye [alone] are men, and wisdom shall die with you?
12:3 [But] I also have a heart as well as you.
12:4 For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.
12:5 For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the
appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let
not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be [held] guiltless,
12:6 even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no
inquisition [made] of them.
12:7 But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to thee; and the birds of the
air, if they may declare to thee.
12:8 Tell the earth, if it may speak to thee: and the fishes of the sea
shall explain to thee.
12:9 Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord
has made them?
12:10 Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath
of every man.
12:11 For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.
12:12 In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.
12:13 With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.
12:14 If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up
against man, who shall open?
12:15 If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he
should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.
12:16 With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.
12:17 He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the
earth.
12:18 He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.
12:19 He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones
of the earth.
12:20 He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of
the elders.
12:21 He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.
12:22 Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light
the shadow of death.
12:23 Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the
nations, and leading them [away].
12:24 Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them
to wander in a way, they have not known, [saying],
12:25 Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, and let
them wander as a drunken man. |
12:1 And Job answered and said,
12:2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
12:3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea,
who knoweth not such things as these?
12:4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he
answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
12:5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the
thought of him that is at ease.
12:6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are
secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
12:7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the
air, and they shall tell thee:
12:8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the
sea shall declare unto thee.
12:9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought
this?
12:10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all
mankind.
12:11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12:12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
12:13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
12:14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up
a man, and there can be no opening.
12:15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth
them out, and they overturn the earth.
12:16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are
his.
12:17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
12:18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
12:19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
12:20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the
understanding of the aged.
12:21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the
mighty.
12:22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light
the shadow of death.
12:23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the
nations, and straiteneth them again.
12:24 He 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.
12:25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger
like a drunken man. |