Job 12

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Then Job replied and said:	1 When Job answered, and said:
2 No doubt you are the intelligent folk, and with you wisdom shall die!	2 Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you?
3 But I have intelligence as well as you; for who does not know such things as these?	3 I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
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;	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 The undisturbed esteem my downfall a disgrace such as awaits unsteady feet;	5 The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.
6 Yet the tents of robbers are prosperous, and those who provoke God are secure.	6 The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:
7 But now ask the beasts to teach you, and the birds of the air to tell you;	7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.
8 Or the reptiles on earth to instruct you, and the fish of the sea to inform you.	8 Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.
9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of God has done 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 life breath of all mankind.	10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.
11 Does not the ear judge words as the mouth tastes food?	11 Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?
12 So with old age is wisdom, and with length of days understanding.	12 In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.
13 With him are wisdom and might; his are counsel and understanding.	13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
14 If he breaks a thing down, there is no rebuilding; if he imprisons a man, there is no 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 He holds back the waters and there is drought; he sends them forth and they overwhelm the land.	15 If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.
16 With him are strength and prudence; the misled and the misleaders are his.	16 With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.
17 He sends counselors away barefoot, and of judges he makes fools.	17 He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.
18 He loosens the bonds imposed by kings and leaves but a waistcloth to bind the king's own loins.	18 He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.
19 and lets their never-failing waters flow away.	19 He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.
20 He silences the trusted adviser, and takes discretion from the aged.	20 He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.
21 He breaks down the barriers of the streams	21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.
22 The recesses of the darkness he discloses, and brings the gloom forth to the light.	22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.
23 He makes nations great and he destroys them; he spreads peoples abroad and he abandons them.	23 He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.
24 He takes understanding from the leaders of the land,	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 till they grope in the darkness without light; he makes them stagger like drunken men.	25 They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.