12:1 Then Job answered and said:
12:2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall 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?
12:4 I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon God, and He answered him; the just, the innocent man is a laughing-stock,
12:5 A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.
12:6 The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.
12:7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee;
12:8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;
12:9 Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
12:10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.--
12:11 Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?
12:12 Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days?--
12:13 With Him is wisdom and might; He hath 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.
12:15 Behold, He withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also He sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
12:16 With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.
12:17 He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.
12:18 He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
12:19 He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.
12:20 He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.
12:21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
12:22 He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
12:23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.
12:24 He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
12:25 They grope in the dark without light, and He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.