12:1 And Iyov (איּו) answered and said:
12:2 No doubt but you [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 knows not such things as these?
12:4 I am [as] one mocked of his neighbour, who calls upon Elo'ah (אלוהּ), and he answers 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 EL (אל) are secure; into whose hand Elo'ah (אלוהּ) brings [abundantly].
12:7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; 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 to you.
12:9 Who knows not in all these that the yad ADONAI (יהוה) have wrought this?
12:10 In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
12:11 does 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 have counsel and understanding.
12:14 Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again: he shutts up a man, and there can be no opening.
12:15 Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up: also he sends 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 leads counsellors away spoiled, and maks the judges fools.
12:18 He looses the bond of kings, and girds their loins with a girdle.
12:19 He leads princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty.
12:20 He removes away the speech of the trusty, and takes away the understanding of the aged.
12:21 He pours contempt upon princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty.
12:22 He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
12:23 He increases the nations, and destroys them: he enlarges the nations, and straitens them [again].
12:24 He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causs them to wander in a wilderness [where there is] no way.
12:25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maks them to stagger like [a] drunken [man].