12:1 Then Job answered:
12:1 Then Job answered:

12:2 "No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.
12:2 "No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.

12:3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?
12:3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?

12:4 I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called upon God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.
12:4 I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called upon God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, I am a laughingstock.

12:5 In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip.
12:5 Those at ease have contempt for misfortune, but it is ready for those whose feet are unstable.

12:6 The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.
12:6 The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hands.

12:7 "But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
12:7 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

12:8 or the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
12:8 ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.

12:9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
12:9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?

12:10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
12:10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.

12:11 Does not the ear try words as the palate tastes food?
12:11 Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

12:12 Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.
12:12 Is wisdom with the aged, and understanding in length of days?

12:13 "With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
12:13 "With God are wisdom and strength; he has counsel and understanding.

12:14 If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.
12:14 If he tears down, no one can rebuild; if he shuts someone in, no one can open up.

12:15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
12:15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.

12:16 With him are strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
12:16 With him are strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.

12:17 He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools.
12:17 He leads counselors away stripped, and makes fools of judges.

12:18 He looses the bonds of kings, and binds a waistcloth on their loins.
12:18 He looses the sash of kings, and binds a waistcloth on their loins.

12:19 He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
12:19 He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

12:20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted, and takes away the discernment of the elders.
12:20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted, and takes away the discernment of the elders.

12:21 He pours contempt on princes, and looses the belt of the strong.
12:21 He pours contempt on princes, and looses the belt of the strong.

12:22 He uncovers the deeps out of darkness, and brings deep darkness to light.
12:22 He uncovers the deeps out of darkness, and brings deep darkness to light.

12:23 He makes nations great, and he destroys them: he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
12:23 He makes nations great, then destroys them; he enlarges nations, then leads them away.

12:24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and makes them wander in a pathless waste.
12:24 He strips understanding from the leaders of the earth, and makes them wander in a pathless waste.

12:25 They grope in the dark without light; and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.
12:25 They grope in the dark without light; he makes them stagger like a drunkard.