1Then Job replied:2‘Doubtless you are the only people who matter, and wisdom will die with you!3But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?4‘I have become a laughing-stock to my friends, though I called on God and he answered – a mere laughing-stock, though righteous and blameless!5Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.6The tents of marauders are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure – those whom God has in his hand.[1]7‘But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;8or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.9Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?10In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.11Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?12Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?13‘To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.14What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; those he imprisons cannot be released.15If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.16To him belong strength and insight; both deceived and deceiver are his.17He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges.18He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth[2] round their waist.19He leads priests away stripped and overthrows officials long established.20He silences the lips of trusted advisors and takes away the discernment of elders.21He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.22He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.23He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.24He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste.25They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.
Job 12
English Standard Version
Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This
1Then Job answered and said:2“No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these? (Job 13:2; Job 15:9; Job 16:2)4I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. (Job 16:10; Job 17:2; Job 17:6; Job 21:3; Job 30:1; Ps 91:15)5In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip. (Job 3:18)6The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.[1] (Job 21:7)7“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;8or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;[2] and the fish of the sea will declare to you.9Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? (Job 1:21; Isa 41:20)10In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. (Nu 16:22; Da 5:23; Ac 17:28)11Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food? (Job 34:3)12Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. (Job 32:7; Ps 119:100)13“With God[3] are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. (Job 9:4; Job 36:5)14If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open. (Job 11:10; Isa 22:22; Re 3:7)15If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. (Ge 7:11; De 11:17; 1Ki 8:35; 1Ki 17:1; Ps 147:18; Am 9:6)16With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. (Job 5:12)17He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools. (2Sa 17:23; Job 9:24; Isa 29:14; Isa 40:23; Isa 44:25; 1Co 1:19)18He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips. (Ps 116:16)19He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty.20He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders. (Job 32:9)21He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong. (Ps 107:40)22He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. (Job 3:5; Da 2:22; 1Co 4:5)23He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. (2Ki 18:11; Isa 9:3; Isa 26:15)24He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. (Job 6:18; Ps 107:40)25They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man. (Job 5:14; Ps 107:27; Isa 19:14)