12:1 And Job answered and said,
12:1 Then Job answered and said:

12:2 No doubt but ye [are] the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
12:2 "No doubt you are the people, And wisdom will 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?
12:3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Indeed, who does not know such things as these?

12:4 I am [as] one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright [man is] laughed to scorn.
12:4 "I am one mocked by his friends, Who called on God, and He answered him, The just and blameless who is ridiculed.

12:5 He that is ready to slip with [his] feet [is as] a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
12:5 A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease; It is made ready for those whose feet slip.

12:6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].
12:6 The tents of robbers prosper, And those who provoke God are secure--In what God provides by His hand.

12:7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
12:7 "But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

12:8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
12:8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you.

12:9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
12:9 Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this,

12:10 In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
12:10 In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?

12:11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12:11 Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food?

12:12 With the ancient [is] wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
12:12 Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding.

12:13 With him [is] wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
12:13 "With Him are wisdom and strength, He has 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.
12:14 If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt; If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.

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

12:16 With him [is] strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver [are] his.
12:16 With Him are strength and prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are His.

12:17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
12:17 He leads counselors away plundered, And makes fools of the judges.

12:18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
12:18 He loosens the bonds of kings, And binds their waist with a belt.

12:19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
12:19 He leads princes away plundered, And overthrows the mighty.

12:20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
12:20 He deprives the trusted ones of speech, And takes away the discernment of the elders.

12:21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
12:21 He pours contempt on princes, And disarms the mighty.

12:22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
12:22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness, And brings the shadow of death to light.

12:23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them [again].
12:23 He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them.

12:24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness [where there is] no way.
12:24 He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.

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