Job 12

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