12:1 And Job answereth and saith: --

12:2 Truly -- ye [are] the people, And with you doth wisdom die.

12:3 I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?

12:4 A laughter to his friend I am: `He calleth to God, and He answereth him,` A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

12:5 A torch -- despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.

12:6 At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.

12:7 And yet, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.

12:8 Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:

12:9 `Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?

12:10 In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.`

12:11 Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

12:12 With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days understanding.

12:13 With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.

12:14 Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.

12:15 Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.

12:16 With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.

12:17 Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.

12:18 The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.

12:19 Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.

12:20 Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.

12:21 Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.

12:22 Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.

12:23 Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.

12:24 Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy -- no way!