1 In response Job replied: ISV — Job 12:1
2 “Truly, you are the people and wisdom will die with you! ISV — Job 12:2
3 Like you, I also have understanding. a12:3 Lit. my heart is like yours I’m not inferior to you; who doesn’t know things b12:3 The Heb. lacks things like this?” ISV — Job 12:3
4 “I’m a laughingstock to my friends, someone c12:4 The Heb. lacks someone who called on God. But then he answered this upright and blameless man, and I have become d12:4 The Heb. lacks have become a laughingstock. ISV — Job 12:4
5 The carefree are thinking, ‘I have contempt for misfortune,’ Those who are about to stumble deserve it. ISV — Job 12:5
6 The tents of robbers are at rest, and those who provoke God are secure, that is, those who carry their god in their pocket. e12:6 Lit. hand ISV — Job 12:6
7 “Ask the wild animals, and they’ll teach you; the birds of the sky will tell you. ISV — Job 12:7
8 Or ask the green plants of the earth and they’ll teach you; let the fish in the sea tell you. ISV — Job 12:8
9 Who among all of these doesn’t know that the LORD’s hand made them, f12:9 Lit. this ISV — Job 12:9
10 and that the life of every living thing g12:10 Lit. all the living rests in his control, along with the breath of every living human being? ISV — Job 12:10
11 The ear scrutinizes speech just as the palate tastes food.” ISV — Job 12:11
12 “Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes h12:12 The Heb. lacks comes with longevity. ISV — Job 12:12
13 With God i12:13 Lit. him is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him. ISV — Job 12:13
14 When he tears down, nobody rebuilds; when j12:14 Lit. man he incarcerates, nobody escapes. ISV — Job 12:14
15 When he withholds water, rivers k12:15 Lit. they dry up; when he lets them loose, they’ll flood l12:15 Lit. overthrow the land. ISV — Job 12:15
16 “With God m12:16 Lit. him are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him. n12:16 Or are his ISV — Job 12:16
17 He leads counselors away naked; he turns judges into fools. ISV — Job 12:17
18 He strips away the authority of kings to punish and puts them in prison clothes instead. ISV — Job 12:18
19 He leads away the priests naked and overthrows the ruling class. o12:19 Lit. strong ones ISV — Job 12:19
20 He keeps reliable advisors from speaking, p12:20 Lit. deprives the lips of advisors and removes discernment from elders. ISV — Job 12:20
21 He pours contempt on nobles and embarrasses q12:21 Lit. and loosens the belt of the mighty. ISV — Job 12:21
22 He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light. ISV — Job 12:22
23 He makes nations great, and then destroys them; he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity. r12:23 The Heb. lacks to captivity ISV — Job 12:23
24 He withdraws understanding s12:24 Lit. heart from national leaders of the world, t12:24 Or land causing them to wander through uncharted u12:24 Or trackless wilderness. ISV — Job 12:24
25 They grope in the dark without light; he causes them to stagger around like a drunkard.” ISV — Job 12:25