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!

12:25  They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.