Job 12

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Then Job, answering, said:	1 Then Job replied and said:
2 Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom die with you?	2 No doubt you are the intelligent folk, and with you wisdom shall die!
3 And I have a heart just as you also do, and I am not inferior to you. For who is ignorant of these things, which you know?	3 But I have intelligence as well as you; for who does not know such things as these?
4 He who is mocked by his friends as I am, will call upon God, and he will listen to him because it is the sincerity of the just that is being mocked.	4 I have become the sport of my neighbors: "The one whom God answers when he calls upon him, The just, the perfect man," is a laughing-stock;
5 The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.	5 The undisturbed esteem my downfall a disgrace such as awaits unsteady feet;
6 The tabernacles of robbers are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things into their hands.	6 Yet the tents of robbers are prosperous, and those who provoke God are secure.
7 In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.	7 But now ask the beasts to teach you, and the birds of the air to tell you;
8 Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.	8 Or the reptiles on earth to instruct you, and the fish of the sea to inform you.
9 Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?	9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of God has done this?
10 In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.	10 In his hand is the soul of every living thing, and the life breath of all mankind.
11 Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?	11 Does not the ear judge words as the mouth tastes food?
12 In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.	12 So with old age is wisdom, and with length of days understanding.
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.	13 With him are wisdom and might; his are counsel and understanding.
14 If he tears down, there is no one who can build up; if he encloses a man, there is no one who can open.	14 If he breaks a thing down, there is no rebuilding; if he imprisons a man, there is no release.
15 If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.	15 He holds back the waters and there is drought; he sends them forth and they overwhelm the land.
16 With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.	16 With him are strength and prudence; the misled and the misleaders are his.
17 He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.	17 He sends counselors away barefoot, and of judges he makes fools.
18 He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.	18 He loosens the bonds imposed by kings and leaves but a waistcloth to bind the king's own loins.
19 He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,	19 and lets their never-failing waters flow away.
20 altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.	20 He silences the trusted adviser, and takes discretion from the aged.
21 He pours distain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.	21 He breaks down the barriers of the streams
22 He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.	22 The recesses of the darkness he discloses, and brings the gloom forth to the light.
23 He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.	23 He makes nations great and he destroys them; he spreads peoples abroad and he abandons them.
24 He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.	24 He takes understanding from the leaders of the land,
25 They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.	25 till they grope in the darkness without light; he makes them stagger like drunken men.