Job 12

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Then Job, answering, said:	1 Job spoke next. He said:
2 Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom die with you?	2 Doubtless, you are the voice of the people, and when you die, wisdom wil die with you!
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 a brain, as well as you, I am in no way inferior to you, and who, in any case, does not know al that?
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 Anyone becomes a laughing-stock to his friends if he cries to God and expects an answer. Peoplelaugh at anyone who has integrity and is upright.
5 The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.	5 'Add insult to injury,' think the prosperous, 'strike the fel ow now that he is staggering!'
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 And yet the tents of brigands are left in peace: those who provoke God dwel secure and so doesanyone who makes a god of his fist!
7 In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.	7 You have only to ask the cattle, for them to instruct you, and the birds of the sky, for them to informyou.
8 Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.	8 The creeping things of earth wil give you lessons, and the fish of the sea provide you an explanation:
9 Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?	9 there is not one such creature but wil know that the hand of God has arranged things like 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 breath of every human being!
11 Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?	11 Can the ear not distinguish the value of what is said, just as the palate can tel one food fromanother?
12 In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.	12 Wisdom is found in the old, and discretion comes with great age.
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.	13 But in him there is wisdom, and power too, and good counsel no less than discretion.
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 What he destroys, no one can rebuild; whom he imprisons, no one can release.
15 If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.	15 Is there a drought? He has withheld the waters. Do they play havoc on earth? He has let them loose.
16 With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.	16 In him is strength, in him resourcefulness, beguiler and beguiled alike are his.
17 He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.	17 He robs a country's counsel ors of their wits, turns judges into fools.
18 He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.	18 He undoes the belts of kings and knots a rope round their waists.
19 He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,	19 He makes priests walk barefoot, and overthrows the powers that are established.
20 altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.	20 He strikes the most assured of speakers dumb and robs old people of their discretion.
21 He pours distain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.	21 He pours contempt on the nobly born, and unbuckles the belt of the strong.
22 He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.	22 He unveils the depths of darkness, brings shadow dark as death to the light.
23 He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.	23 He builds nations up, then ruins them, he makes peoples expand, then suppresses 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 strips a country's leaders of their judgement, and leaves them to wander in a trackless waste,
25 They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.	25 to grope about in unlit darkness, lurching to and fro as though drunk.