JPS - Job - 12

12:1  Then Job answered and said:

12:2  No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

12:3  But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

12:4  I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon G-d, and He answered him; the just, the innocent man is a laughing-stock,

12:5  A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.

12:6  The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke G-d are secure, in whatsoever G-d bringeth into their hand.

12:7  But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee;

12:8  Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;

12:9  Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of HaShem hath wrought this?

12:10  In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.--

12:11  Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?

12:12  Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days?--

12:13  With Him is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.

12:14  Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

12:15  Behold, He withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also He sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

12:16  With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.

12:17  He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.

12:18  He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.

12:19  He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.

12:20  He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.

12:21  He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.

12:22  He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

12:23  He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.

12:24  He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

12:25  They grope in the dark without light, and He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.