Job 12 — The Holy Bible

Job Chides His Critics

Job 12, verse 1. Then Job answered and said:

“Moreover you are men.

Surely wisdom will die with you?

But I also have a heart as well as you.

“A righteous and blameless man

Has become an object of mockery.

For it had been ordained that he should fall

Under the power of others at the appointed time,

And his houses should be plundered by the lawless.

Let not, however, any one be persuaded

That, if he is evil, he will be held innocent.

Let not those who provoke the Lord

Be persuaded there will be no trial for them.

“But now ask the four-footed animals if they may speak to you,

And the birds of the air if they may report it to you.

Tell the earth if it may interpret it to you,

And the fish of the sea will explain to you.

Who among all these does not know

The hand of the Lord created them,

That in His hand is the life of every living thing,

And the breath of every man?

For indeed, the ear discerns words,

And the palate tastes wheat.

In length of time is wisdom,

And in long life, knowledge.

“With Him are wisdom and power;

With Him are counsel and understanding.

If He tears down a house, who will build it up again?

If He closes a door against men, who will open it?

If He withholds the water, He will dry up the earth;

If He lets it loose, He will destroy and ruin it.

With Him are might and strength.

He has knowledge and understanding.

He leads counselors away captive

And makes fools of judges.

He sets kings upon thrones

And binds their waist with a belt.

He sends priests away into captivity

And overthrows the mighty of the earth.

He changes the lips of the faithful

And knows the understanding of elders.

He pours dishonor on rulers

And heals the humble.

He uncovers deep things out of darkness

And has brought into light the shadow of death.

He leads the nations astray and destroys them.

He overthrows the nations and leads them away.

He changes the hearts of rulers

And leads them astray in a way they have not known.

May they grope in darkness,

And may they go astray like a drunken man.