Job 12

¹Then Iob answered, and sayde,

²In deede because that ye are the people onely, wisedome must dye with you.

³But I haue vnderstanding aswel as you, and am not inferior vnto you: yea, who knoweth not such things?

⁴I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth vpon God, and he heareth him: the iust and the vpright is laughed to scorne.

⁵Hee that is readie to fall, is as a lampe despised in the opinion of the riche.

⁶The tabernacles of robbers doe prosper, and they are in safetie, that prouoke God, whome God hath enriched with his hand.

⁷Aske now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the foules of the heauen, and they shall tell thee:

⁸Or speake to the earth, and it shall shewe thee: or the fishes of the sea, and they shall declare vnto thee.

⁹Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hande of the Lord hath made these?

¹⁰In whose hande is the soule of euery liuing thing, and the breath of all mankinde.

¹¹Doeth not the eares discerne the words? and the mouth taste meate for it selfe?

¹²Among the ancient is wisedome, and in the length of dayes is vnderstanding.

¹³With him is wisedome and strength: he hath counsell and vnderstanding.

¹⁴Beholde, he will breake downe, and it can not be built: he shutteth a man vp, and he can not be loosed.

¹⁵Beholde, he withholdeth the waters, and they drie vp: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth.

¹⁶With him is strength and wisedome: hee that is deceiued, and that deceiueth, are his.

¹⁷He causeth the counsellers to goe as spoyled, and maketh the iudges fooles.

¹⁸He looseth the collar of Kings, and girdeth their loynes with a girdle.

¹⁹He leadeth away the princes as a pray, and ouerthroweth the mightie.

²⁰He taketh away the speach from the faithfull counsellers, and taketh away the iudgement of the ancient.

²¹He powreth contempt vpon princes, and maketh the strength of the mightie weake.

²²He discouereth the deepe places from their darkenesse, and bringeth foorth the shadowe of death to light.

²³He increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he inlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in againe.

²⁴He taketh away the heartes of the that are the chiefe ouer the people of the earth, and maketh them to wander in the wildernes out of the way.

²⁵They grope in the darke without light: and he maketh the to stagger like a drunken man.

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.