Job 12
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
World English Bible
1Then Job answered and said:
1Then Job answered,
2No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
2“No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom will 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?
3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?
4I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon God, and He answered him; the just, the innocent man is a laughing-stock,
4I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
5A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.
5In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
6The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.
6The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.
7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee;
7“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;
8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you.
9Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
9Who doesn’t know that in all these, the LORD’s hand has done this,
10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. —
10in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
11Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?
11Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
12Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days? —
12With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
13With Him is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.
13“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
14Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
14Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
15Behold, He withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also He sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
15Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
16With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.
16With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.
17He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
18He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
18He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.
19He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.
19He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
20He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.
20He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
21He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
22He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
22He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
23He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.
23He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
24He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
24He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes 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.
25They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
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