12:1  And Job answered and said,

12:2  No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

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

12:4  I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

12:5  He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

12:6  The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

12:7  But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

12:8  Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

12:9  Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

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

12:11  Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

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

12:13  With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

12:14  Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

12:15  Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

12:16  With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

12:17  He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

12:18  He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.

12:19  He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

12:20  He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

12:21  He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

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

12:23  He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

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

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