Job 12

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	VULGATA
1 Then Job replied and said:	1 Respondens autem Job, dixit :
2 No doubt you are the intelligent folk, and with you wisdom shall die!	2 Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia ?
3 But I have intelligence as well as you; for who does not know such things as these?	3 Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum ; quis enim hæc quæ nostis ignorat ?
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 Qui deridetur ab amico suo, sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum : deridetur enim justi simplicitas.
5 The undisturbed esteem my downfall a disgrace such as awaits unsteady feet;	5 Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum parata ad tempus statutum.
6 Yet the tents of robbers are prosperous, and those who provoke God are secure.	6 Abundant tabernacula prædonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.
7 But now ask the beasts to teach you, and the birds of the air to tell you;	7 Nimirum interroga jumenta, et docebunt te ; et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.
8 Or the reptiles on earth to instruct you, and the fish of the sea to inform you.	8 Loquere terræ, et respondebit tibi, et narrabunt pisces maris.
9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of God has done this?	9 Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit ?
10 In his hand is the soul of every living thing, and the life breath of all mankind.	10 In cujus manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universæ carnis hominis.
11 Does not the ear judge words as the mouth tastes food?	11 Nonne auris verba dijudicat ? et fauces comedentis, saporem ?
12 So with old age is wisdom, and with length of days understanding.	12 In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.
13 With him are wisdom and might; his are counsel and understanding.	13 Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo ; ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.
14 If he breaks a thing down, there is no rebuilding; if he imprisons a man, there is no release.	14 Si destruxerit, nemo est qui ædificet ; si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.
15 He holds back the waters and there is drought; he sends them forth and they overwhelm the land.	15 Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur ; et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.
16 With him are strength and prudence; the misled and the misleaders are his.	16 Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia ; ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.
17 He sends counselors away barefoot, and of judges he makes fools.	17 Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et judices in stuporem.
18 He loosens the bonds imposed by kings and leaves but a waistcloth to bind the king's own loins.	18 Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.
19 and lets their never-failing waters flow away.	19 Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat :
20 He silences the trusted adviser, and takes discretion from the aged.	20 commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.
21 He breaks down the barriers of the streams	21 Effundit despectionem super principes, eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans.
22 The recesses of the darkness he discloses, and brings the gloom forth to the light.	22 Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.
23 He makes nations great and he destroys them; he spreads peoples abroad and he abandons them.	23 Qui multiplicat gentes, et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.
24 He takes understanding from the leaders of the land,	24 Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium :
25 till they grope in the darkness without light; he makes them stagger like drunken men.	25 palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.