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 hath become a subject for mockery.
5 For it had been ordained that he should fall under others [1]at the appointed time,
and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors:
let not however anyone 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 hath not known in all these things,
that the hand of the Lord hath made them?
10 Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand,
and the breath of every man.
11 For the ear trieth words,
and the [2]palate tasteth 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 overthroweth and destroyeth it.
16 With him are strength and power:
he hath knowledge and understanding.
17 He leadeth counsellors away captive,
and maddeneth the judges of the earth.
18 He seateth kings upon thrones,
and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
19 He sendeth away priests into captivity,
and overthroweth the mighty ones of the earth.
20 He changeth the lips of the trusty,
and he knoweth the understanding of the elders.
21 He poureth dishonour upon princes,
and healeth the lowly.
22 Revealing deep things out of darkness:
and he hath 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 causeth 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.