Job 12

Job’s Reply to Zophar

1 Then Job answered:

2 No doubt you are the people,

and wisdom will die with you!

3 But I also have a mind like you;

I am not inferior to you.

Who doesn’t know the things you are talking about?  * 12:3 Lit With whom are not such things as these?,* 12:3 Jb 13:2; 15:9; 16:2

4 I am a laughingstock to my  * 12:4 Lit his  friends,

by calling on God, who answers me.  * 12:4 Lit him

The righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock.  * 12:4 Jb 30:1,9; Jr 20:7; Lm 3:14

5 The one who is at ease  * 12:5 Ps 123:4; Am 6:1 holds calamity in contempt

and thinks it is prepared for those whose feet are slipping.

6 The tents of robbers are safe,  * 12:6 Jb 5:24; 8:6; 21:9

and those who trouble God are secure;

God holds them in his hands.  * 12:6 Or secure; to those who bring their god in their hands,* 12:6 Ps 73:11; Jr 12:1; Mt 5:45

7 But ask the animals, and they will instruct you;

ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.  * 12:7 Jb 35:11; Mt 6:26

8 Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you;

let the fish of the sea inform you.

9 Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the  Lord has done this?  * 12:9 Ru 1:13; Jb 19:21; Is 41:20

10 The life of every living thing is in his hand,

as well as the breath of all humanity.  * 12:10 Gn 2:7; Jb 27:3; 33:4

11 Doesn’t the ear test words

as the palate tastes food?

12 Wisdom is found with the elderly,

and understanding comes with long life.  * 12:12 Jb 12:20; 32:7,9; Ps 119:100

13 Wisdom and strength belong to God;

counsel and understanding are his.  * 12:13 Jb 9:4; 36:5; 38:36

14 Whatever he tears down cannot be rebuilt;

whoever he imprisons cannot be released.  * 12:14 Jb 11:10; Is 22:22; Rv 3:7

15 When he withholds water, everything dries up,

and when he releases it, it destroys the land.  * 12:15 Is 41:18; 42:15; 44:3,27

16 True wisdom and power belong to him.

The deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leads counselors away barefoot

and makes judges go mad.  * 12:17 Jb 9:24; Is 29:14; 44:25

18 He releases the bonds  * 12:18 Text emended; MT reads discipline put on by kings  * 12:18 Jb 12:21; Is 45:1

and fastens a belt around their waists.

19 He leads priests away barefoot

and overthrows established leaders.  * 12:19 Is 40:23; Lk 1:52

20 He deprives trusted advisers of speech

and takes away the elders’ good judgment.

21 He pours out contempt on nobles

and disarms  * 12:21 Lit and loosens the belt of the strong.

22 He reveals mysteries from the darkness

and brings the deepest darkness into the light.  * 12:22 Ps 90:8; Dn 2:22; 1Co 4:5

23 He makes nations great, then destroys them;

he enlarges nations,  * 12:23 Ex 34:24; Is 9:3; 26:15 then leads them away.

24 He deprives the world’s leaders of reason,

and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.  * 12:24 Ps 107:40; Dn 4:33

25 They grope around in darkness without light;

he makes them stagger like a drunkard.  * 12:25 Dt 28:29; Jb 5:14; Is 59:10