Job 12

Job’s Fourth Speech: A Response to Zophar

1And Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24He 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. +

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