AB - Job - 12

12:1  And Job answered and said,

12:2  So then you alone are men, and wisdom shall die with you?

12:3  But I also have a heart as well as you.

12:4  For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.

12:5  For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however anyone trust that, being evil, he shall be held guiltless,

12:6  even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition made of them.

12:7  But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to you, and the birds of the air, if they may declare to you.

12:8  Tell the earth, if it may speak to you, and the fish of the sea shall explain to you.

12:9  Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?

12:10  Seeing that the life of all living things is in His hand, and the breath of every man.

12:11  For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.

12:12  In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.

12:13  With Him are wisdom and power, with Him counsel and understanding.

12:14  If He should cast down, who will build up? If He should shut up against man, who shall open?

12:15  If He should withhold the water, He will dry the earth: and if He should let it loose, He overthrows and destroys it.

12:16  With Him are strength and power: He has knowledge and understanding.

12:17  He leads counselors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.

12:18  He seats kings upon thrones, and binds their waist with a belt.

12:19  He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.

12:20  He changes the lips of the trusty, and He knows the understanding of the elders.

12:21  He pours dishonor upon princes, and heals the lowly.

12:22  Revealing deep things out of darkness: and He has brought into light the shadow of death.

12:23  Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them away.

12:24  Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth, and He causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, saying,

12:25  Let them grope in darkness, and let there be no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.