Job 12

1Then Job answered:

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?

4I have become a laughingstock to my friend—I, who called on God and he answered me. A righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock!

5In the thoughts of those at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip.

6The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, those who carry their god in their hand.

7But ask the animals, and they will teach you, the birds of the sky, and they will tell you;

8or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, and the fish of the sea will declare it to you.

9Which of all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?

10In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all humankind.

11Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes its food?

12Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding comes with long life.

13With him are wisdom and might; counsel and understanding are his.

14Look, what he tears down cannot be rebuilt; whom he shuts in cannot be let out.

15Look, he holds back the waters, and they dry up; he sends them out, and they overturn the land.

16With him are strength and sound wisdom; the one led astray and the one who leads astray are his.

17He leads counselors away stripped and makes fools of judges.

18He loosens the bonds of kings and ties a loincloth around their waists.

19He leads priests away stripped and overthrows those long secure.

20He silences trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of the elders.

21He pours contempt on nobles and loosens the belt of the strong.

22He uncovers deep things out of darkness and brings deep shadow into the light.

23He makes nations great, then destroys them; he enlarges nations, then leads them away.

24He takes away the understanding of the leaders of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.

25They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like a drunkard.