Chapter 12

¹When Job answered, and said: ²Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you? ³I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know? ⁴He 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. ⁵The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed. ⁶The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands: ⁷But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee. ⁸Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell. ⁹Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things? ¹⁰In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man. ¹¹Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste? ¹²In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence. ¹³With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. ¹⁴If he pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a. man, there is none that can open. ¹⁵If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth. ¹⁶With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived. ¹⁷He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility. ¹⁸He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord. ¹⁹He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles. ²⁰He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged. ²¹He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed. ²²He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death. ²³He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown. ²⁴He 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. ²⁵They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.