12:1  And Job answered and said,

12:2  "For truly you are no doubt the people, and wisdom will die with you.

12:3  But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; yea, who does not know such things as these?

12:4  I am as one who is a laughingstock to my friends; a man who called upon God, and He answered him; the just, the innocent one is laughed to scorn;

12:5  Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune; as it is ready for those whose feet slip.

12:6  The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure, in whatever God brings into their hand.

12:7  But now ask the animals, and they shall teach you; and the birds of the air, and they shall tell you;

12:8  Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you; and the fish of the sea shall declare it to you;

12:9  Who of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?

12:10  In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh, even of mankind?

12:11  Does not the ear try words? And does not the mouth taste its food?

12:12  With the ancient is wisdom, and understanding in length of days.

12:13  With Him is wisdom and strength; He has counsel and understanding.

12:14  Behold, if He tears down, no one can rebuild; if He shuts in a man, no one can open.

12:15  Behold, He withholds the waters, and they dry up; also He sends them out, and they inundate the earth.

12:16  With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.

12:17  He leads counselors away stripped, and makes the judges fools.

12:18  He loosens the bonds of kings, and binds their loins with a girdle.

12:19  He leads princes away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

12:20  He silences the lips of trusted ones, and takes away the understanding of the elders.

12:21  He pours contempt upon princes, and unties the belt of the mighty.

12:22  He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings the shadow of death to light.

12:23  He gives greatness to the nations, and destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and leads them away.

12:24  He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.

12:25  They grope in the dark without light, and He makes them to stagger like a drunken man."