Job 12

CHAPTER 12 Job Reproves His Friends

1 And undertaking, Job says, 2 So then you are men, then [³with ⁴you ²comes to an end ¹wisdom]? 3 [²also to me ³indeed ⁴a heart ⁵like ⁶yours ¹There is]. 4 For a just man, and blameless, was born for an object for taunts. 5 [²at ⁴time ¹For ³an appointed] man had been prepared to fall under others; [³house ¹also for ²his] to be pillaged by lawless ones. But let not however any one [³rely on ²wicked ¹being] he shall be considered innocent; 6 as many as provoke [³to anger ¹the ² lord], as if [²not ⁴also ⁵their chastisement ¹there will ³be]. 7 But indeed ask the four-footed beasts! if they should speak to you, or birds of the heaven, if they were able to report to you. 8 [²let ⁴tell in detail ¹And ³the earth]! if it should expound to you; and [⁵shall describe ⁶to you ¹the ²fishes ³of the ⁴sea]. 9 Who knew not among all these, that the hand of the lord made these? 10 Except in his hand is the life of all the living, and the breath of every man. 11 [²the ear ³indeed ¹For ⁵words ⁴scrutinizes], and the throat [²grains ¹tastes]. 12 In a long time is wisdom; and in a long existence is higher knowledge. 13 By him is wisdom and power; with him counsel and understanding. 14 If he should throw down, who shall build up? If he locks against man, who opens? 15 If he should restrain the water, he shall dry the earth; and if he should let it loose, he destroys it by eradication. 16 By him is might and strength; in him is higher knowledge and understanding, 17 leading counselors as captives; and judges of the earth he amazes; 18 sitting kings upon thrones, and ties a belt on their loins; 19 sending priests as captives; and the mighty ones of the earth he eradicates; 20 reconciling the lips of the trustworthy; [²the understanding ¹and] of the elders he knew; 21 pouring out dishonor upon rulers, but the humble he healed; 22 uncovering the deeps from out of darkness, and he leads [³into ⁴light ¹the shadow ²of death]; 23 wandering nations, and destroying them; prostrating nations, and directing them; 24 reconciling the hearts of the rulers of the earth, but wandering them in the way which they do not know. 25 May they handle darkness, and not light; may they be wandering as if one being intoxicated.