Job 12

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Job spoke next. He said:	1 When Job answered, and said:
2 Doubtless, you are the voice of the people, and when you die, wisdom wil die with you!	2 Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you?
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?	3 I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
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.	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.
5 'Add insult to injury,' think the prosperous, 'strike the fel ow now that he is staggering!'	5 The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.
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!	6 The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:
7 You have only to ask the cattle, for them to instruct you, and the birds of the sky, for them to informyou.	7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.
8 The creeping things of earth wil give you lessons, and the fish of the sea provide you an explanation:	8 Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.
9 there is not one such creature but wil know that the hand of God has arranged things like this!	9 Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?
10 In his hand is the soul of every living thing and the breath of every human being!	10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.
11 Can the ear not distinguish the value of what is said, just as the palate can tel one food fromanother?	11 Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?
12 Wisdom is found in the old, and discretion comes with great age.	12 In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.
13 But in him there is wisdom, and power too, and good counsel no less than discretion.	13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
14 What he destroys, no one can rebuild; whom he imprisons, no one can release.	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.
15 Is there a drought? He has withheld the waters. Do they play havoc on earth? He has let them loose.	15 If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.
16 In him is strength, in him resourcefulness, beguiler and beguiled alike are his.	16 With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.
17 He robs a country's counsel ors of their wits, turns judges into fools.	17 He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.
18 He undoes the belts of kings and knots a rope round their waists.	18 He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.
19 He makes priests walk barefoot, and overthrows the powers that are established.	19 He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.
20 He strikes the most assured of speakers dumb and robs old people of their discretion.	20 He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.
21 He pours contempt on the nobly born, and unbuckles the belt of the strong.	21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.
22 He unveils the depths of darkness, brings shadow dark as death to the light.	22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.
23 He builds nations up, then ruins them, he makes peoples expand, then suppresses them.	23 He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.
24 He strips a country's leaders of their judgement, and leaves them to wander in a trackless waste,	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.
25 to grope about in unlit darkness, lurching to and fro as though drunk.	25 They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.