Job 12
1 And Job answered and said,
2 So then ye
alone are men, and wisdom shall die with you?
3 But I also
have a heart as well as you. 4 For a
righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.
5 For it had been ordained that he
should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be
spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he
shall be held guiltless,
6 even as many as provoke the Lord, as
if there were indeed to be no inquisition made of
them.
7 But ask now the beasts, if they may
speak to thee; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to thee.
8 Tell the earth, if it may speak to
thee: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to thee.
9 Who then has not known in all these
things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?
10 Whereas the life of all living
things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.
11 For the ear tries words, and the
palate tastes meats. 12 In length of
time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.
13 With him are wisdom and power,
with him counsel and understanding.
14 If he should cast down, who will
build up? if he should shut up against men, who shall open?
15 If he should withhold the water,
he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and
destroys it. 16 With him are strength
and power: he has knowledge and understanding.
17 He leads counsellors away captive,
and maddens the judges of the earth.
18 He seats kings upon thrones, and
girds their loins with a girdle.
19 He sends away priests into
captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.
20 He changes the lips of the trusty,
and he knows the understanding of the elders.
21 He pours dishonour upon princes,
and heals the lowly. 22 Revealing
deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of
death. 23 Causing the nations to
wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them
away.
24 Perplexing the minds of the
princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way they have not
known, saying,
25 Let them grope
in darkness, and
let there be no light, and let them wander as a
drunken man.