Job 12

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Job spoke next. He said:	1 Then Job, answering, said:
2 Doubtless, you are the voice of the people, and when you die, wisdom wil die with you!	2 Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will 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 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?
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 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.
5 'Add insult to injury,' think the prosperous, 'strike the fel ow now that he is staggering!'	5 The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.
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 are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things 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 In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.
8 The creeping things of earth wil give you lessons, and the fish of the sea provide you an explanation:	8 Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.
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 has made all these things?
10 In his hand is the soul of every living thing and the breath of every human being!	10 In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.
11 Can the ear not distinguish the value of what is said, just as the palate can tel one food fromanother?	11 Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?
12 Wisdom is found in the old, and discretion comes with great age.	12 In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is 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 has counsel and understanding.
14 What he destroys, no one can rebuild; whom he imprisons, no one can release.	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.
15 Is there a drought? He has withheld the waters. Do they play havoc on earth? He has let them loose.	15 If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.
16 In him is strength, in him resourcefulness, beguiler and beguiled alike are his.	16 With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.
17 He robs a country's counsel ors of their wits, turns judges into fools.	17 He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.
18 He undoes the belts of kings and knots a rope round their waists.	18 He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.
19 He makes priests walk barefoot, and overthrows the powers that are established.	19 He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,
20 He strikes the most assured of speakers dumb and robs old people of their discretion.	20 altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.
21 He pours contempt on the nobly born, and unbuckles the belt of the strong.	21 He pours distain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.
22 He unveils the depths of darkness, brings shadow dark as death to the light.	22 He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.
23 He builds nations up, then ruins them, he makes peoples expand, then suppresses them.	23 He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.
24 He strips a country's leaders of their judgement, and leaves them to wander in a trackless waste,	24 He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.
25 to grope about in unlit darkness, lurching to and fro as though drunk.	25 They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.