The Book of Job

Chapter 12

American Standard Version

Jb 12:1Then Job answered and said,
Jb 12:2No doubt but ye are the people, And wisdom shall die with you.
Jb 12:3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: Yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
Jb 12:4I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
Jb 12:5In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; It is ready for them whose foot slippeth.
Jb 12:6The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
Jb 12:7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; And the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee:
Jb 12:8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Jb 12:9Who knoweth not in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this,
Jb 12:10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?
Jb 12:11Doth not the ear try words, Even as the palate tasteth its food?
Jb 12:12With aged men is wisdom, And in length of days understanding.
Jb 12:13With God is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.
Jb 12:14Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
Jb 12:15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Jb 12:16With him is strength and wisdom; The deceived and the deceiver are his.
Jb 12:17He leadeth counsellors away stripped, And judges maketh he fools.
Jb 12:18He looseth the bond of kings, And he bindeth their loins with a girdle.
Jb 12:19He leadeth priests away stripped, And overthroweth the mighty.
Jb 12:20He removeth the speech of the trusty, And taketh away the understanding of the elders.
Jb 12:21He poureth contempt upon princes, And looseth the belt of the strong.
Jb 12:22He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, And bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
Jb 12:23He increaseth the nations, and he destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and he leadeth them captive.
Jb 12:24He taketh away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Jb 12:25They grope in the dark without light; And he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.