1Job replied,2‘You people think you are the only ones who matter! You are sure that wisdom will die with you!3But I have a brain, just like you. I’m as clever as you are. In fact, everyone knows as much as you do.4‘My friends laugh at me all the time, even though I called out to God and he answered. My friends laugh at me, even though I’m honest and right.5People who have an easy life look down on those who have problems. They think trouble comes only to those whose feet are slipping.6Why doesn’t anyone bother the tents of robbers? Why do those who make God angry remain secure? They are in God’s hands!7‘But ask the animals what God does. They will teach you. Or ask the birds in the sky. They will tell you.8Or speak to the earth. It will teach you. Or let the fish in the ocean educate you.9Are there any of these creatures that don’t know what the powerful hand of the LORD has done?10He holds the life of every creature in his hand. He controls the breath of every human being.11Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn’t. And our ears tell us what’s true and what isn’t.12Old people are wise. Those who live a long time have understanding.13‘Wisdom and power belong to God. Advice and understanding also belong to him.14What he tears down can’t be rebuilt. The people he puts in prison can’t be set free.15If he holds back the water, everything dries up. If he lets the water loose, it floods the land.16Strength and understanding belong to him. Those who tell lies and those who believe them also belong to him.17He removes the wisdom of rulers and leads them away. He makes judges look foolish.18He sets people free from the chains that kings put on them. Then he dresses the kings in the clothes of slaves.19He removes the authority of priests and leads them away. He removes from their positions officials who have been in control for a long time.20He shuts the mouths of trusted advisers. He takes away the understanding of elders.21He looks down on proud leaders. He takes away the strength of those who are mighty.22He tells people the secrets of darkness. He brings total darkness out into the light.23He makes nations great, and then he destroys them. He makes nations grow, and then he scatters them.24He takes away the understanding of the leaders of the earth. He makes them wander in a desert where no one lives.25Without any light, they feel their way along in darkness. God makes them unsteady like those who get drunk.
Job 12
English Standard Version
Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This
1Then Job answered and said:2“No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these? (Job 13:2; Job 15:9; Job 16:2)4I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. (Job 16:10; Job 17:2; Job 17:6; Job 21:3; Job 30:1; Ps 91:15)5In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip. (Job 3:18)6The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.[1] (Job 21:7)7“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;8or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;[2] and the fish of the sea will declare to you.9Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? (Job 1:21; Isa 41:20)10In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. (Nu 16:22; Da 5:23; Ac 17:28)11Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food? (Job 34:3)12Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. (Job 32:7; Ps 119:100)13“With God[3] are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. (Job 9:4; Job 36:5)14If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open. (Job 11:10; Isa 22:22; Re 3:7)15If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. (Ge 7:11; De 11:17; 1Ki 8:35; 1Ki 17:1; Ps 147:18; Am 9:6)16With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. (Job 5:12)17He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools. (2Sa 17:23; Job 9:24; Isa 29:14; Isa 40:23; Isa 44:25; 1Co 1:19)18He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips. (Ps 116:16)19He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty.20He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders. (Job 32:9)21He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong. (Ps 107:40)22He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. (Job 3:5; Da 2:22; 1Co 4:5)23He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. (2Ki 18:11; Isa 9:3; Isa 26:15)24He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. (Job 6:18; Ps 107:40)25They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man. (Job 5:14; Ps 107:27; Isa 19:14)