Job

The book of Job, chapter 12, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 12 New English Translation

Job's Reply to Zophar

   1 Then Job answered:
   2 "Without a doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.
   3 I also have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?
   4 I am a laughingstock to my friends, I, who called on God and whom he answered - a righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock!
   5 For calamity, there is derision (according to the ideas of the fortunate) - a fate for those whose feet slip!
   6 But the tents of robbers are peaceful, and those who provoke God are confident - who carry their god in their hands.

Knowledge of God's Wisdom

   7 "But now, ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the sky and they will tell you.
   8 Or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea declare to you.
   9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this,
   10 in whose hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all the human race.
   11 Does not the ear test words, as the tongue tastes food?
   12 Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
   13 "With God are wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.
   14 If he tears down, it cannot be rebuilt; if he imprisons a person, there is no escape.
   15 If he holds back the waters, then they dry up; if he releases them, they destroy the land.
   16 With him are strength and prudence; both the one who goes astray and the one who misleads are his.
   17 He leads counselors away stripped and makes judges into fools.
   18 He loosens the bonds of kings and binds a loincloth around their waist.
   19 He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the potentates.
   20 He deprives the trusted advisers of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.
   21 He pours contempt on noblemen and disarms the powerful.
   22 He reveals the deep things of darkness, and brings deep shadows into the light.
   23 He makes nations great, and destroys them; he extends the boundaries of nations and disperses them.
   24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their understanding; he makes them wander in a trackless desert waste.
   25 They grope about in darkness without light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.

King James Version

   1 And Job answered and said,
   2 No doubt but ye 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?
   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.
   5 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.
   7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
   8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
   9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
   10 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?
   12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
   13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath 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.
   15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
   16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
   17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
   18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
   19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
   20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
   21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
   22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
   23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth 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.
   25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.