Job 12
Job responds with biting sarcasm, telling his friends that wisdom will die with them. He declares that even the beasts know God's hand governs all things, and describes God's sovereign power to tear down nations, expose counsellors, and overthrow the mighty.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | And Job answered and said, | And Job answered and said: |
| 2 | No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. | "No doubt but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. |
| 3 | But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? | But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who does not know such things as these? |
| 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. | I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calls on God, and He answers Him; the just upright man is laughed to scorn. |
| 5 | He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. | He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. |
| 6 | The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. | The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, into whose hand God brings abundantly. |
| 7 | But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: | But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you. |
| 8 | Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. | Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you; and the fishes of the sea shall declare to you. |
| 9 | Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? | Who does not know in all these that the hand of the LORD has wrought this? |
| 10 | In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. | In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. |
| 11 | Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? | Does not the ear try words? And the mouth taste its meat? |
| 12 | With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. | With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. |
| 13 | With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. | With Him is wisdom and strength; He has counsel and understanding. |
| 14 | Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. | See, He breaks down, and it cannot be built again; He shuts up a man, and there can be no opening. |
| 15 | Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. | See, He withholds the waters, and they dry up; also He sends them out, and they overturn the earth. |
| 16 | With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. | With Him is strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His. |
| 17 | He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. | He leads counsellors away spoiled, and makes the judges fools. |
| 18 | He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. | He looses the bond of kings, and girds their loins with a girdle. |
| 19 | He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. | He leads princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty. |
| 20 | He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. | He removes away the speech of the trusty, and takes away the understanding of the aged. |
| 21 | He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. | He pours contempt on princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty. |
| 22 | He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. | He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death. |
| 23 | He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. | He increases the nations, and destroys them; he enlarges the nations, and confines them again. |
| 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. | He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. |
| 25 | They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. | They grope in the dark without light, and He makes them to stagger like a drunken man." |