Job 12

Evangelical Heritage Version

² Yes, indeed. You are the people,
and wisdom will die with you!
³ But I understand things as well as you.^[a]
I do not fall short of you.
Who doesn’t know all these things?

⁴ But I am a laughingstock to my neighbor—
I, who call on God, and he answers me—
I, a righteous and complete man, am a laughingstock!
⁵ Those who are carefree do not worry about disaster.
They think it is reserved for those whose feet are slipping.
⁶ The tents of raiders are undisturbed,
and those who provoke God are secure—
those who carry their god in their hand.^[b]

⁷ Please ask the animals, and they will teach you.
Ask the birds of the sky, and they will inform you.
⁸ Complain to the earth, and it will teach you,
and the fish of the sea will tell you about it.
⁹ Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord^[c] did this?
¹⁰ The life of every living thing is in his hand,
as well as the breath^[d] in all human flesh.

¹¹ Isn’t it true that the ear tests words
and the palate tastes food?
¹² Isn’t it true that wisdom is found among the aged
and understanding among those who have had a long life?
¹³ But wisdom and power are with God.
He gives guidance and understanding.
¹⁴ If he tears something down, it cannot be rebuilt.
If he shuts a door on a man, it cannot be opened.
¹⁵ Look! He holds back the waters, and the land dries up.
He turns them loose, and the earth is overwhelmed.
¹⁶ He has strength and sound judgment.
The deceiver and the deceived both belong to him.
¹⁷ He causes royal advisors to be led away naked.
He makes fools of judges.
¹⁸ He takes away the ruling power of kings,
and he wraps a loincloth around their waist.^[e]
19 He causes priests to be led away naked,
and he brings the pillars of society down to ruin.
²⁰ He closes the lips of trusted advisors,
and he takes away good judgment from elders.
²¹ He pours contempt on nobles.
He loosens the belt of the strong.
²² He uncovers deep mysteries that were hidden in darkness.
He brings the shadow of death into the light.
²³ He raises nations to power, and then he destroys them.
He enlarges nations, and then he leads them away captive.
²⁴ He deprives the heads of the peoples of the earth of their reason.
He makes them wander in a wild land where there are no roads.
²⁵ They grope around in darkness, where there is no light.
He causes them to wander aimlessly like drunks.