Job 12

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 When Job answered, and said:	1 Job spoke next. He said:
2 Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you?	2 Doubtless, you are the voice of the people, and when you die, wisdom wil die with you!
3 I also have a heart as well as 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 that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.	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 despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.	5 'Add insult to injury,' think the prosperous, 'strike the fel ow now that he is staggering!'
6 The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all 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 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.	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 to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.	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 hath 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 whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.	10 In his hand is the soul of every living thing and the breath of every human being!
11 Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?	11 Can the ear not distinguish the value of what is said, just as the palate can tel one food fromanother?
12 In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.	12 Wisdom is found in the old, and discretion comes with great age.
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.	13 But in him there is wisdom, and power too, and good counsel no less than discretion.
14 If he pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a. man, there is none that can open.	14 What he destroys, no one can rebuild; whom he imprisons, no one can release.
15 If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.	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 knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.	16 In him is strength, in him resourcefulness, beguiler and beguiled alike are his.
17 He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.	17 He robs a country's counsel ors of their wits, turns judges into fools.
18 He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.	18 He undoes the belts of kings and knots a rope round their waists.
19 He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.	19 He makes priests walk barefoot, and overthrows the powers that are established.
20 He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.	20 He strikes the most assured of speakers dumb and robs old people of their discretion.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.	21 He pours contempt on the nobly born, and unbuckles the belt of the strong.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.	22 He unveils the depths of darkness, brings shadow dark as death to the light.
23 He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.	23 He builds nations up, then ruins them, he makes peoples expand, then suppresses them.
24 He changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way.	24 He strips a country's leaders of their judgement, and leaves them to wander in a trackless waste,
25 They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.	25 to grope about in unlit darkness, lurching to and fro as though drunk.