Job 12
Bible in Basic English
1And Job made answer and said,
2No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.
3But I have a mind as well as you; I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?
4It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!
5In the thought of him who is in comfort there is no respect for one who is in trouble; such is the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe; even those whose god is their strength.
7But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;
8Or to the things which go flat on the earth, and they will give you wisdom; and the fishes of the sea will give you news of it.
9Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.
11Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?
12Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.
13With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.
14Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him; when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.
15Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.
16With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;
17He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;
18He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;
19He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;
20He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;
21He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;
22Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;
23Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.
24He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.
25They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.
Reina-Valera 1909
1Y RESPONDIÓ Job, y dijo:
2Ciertamente que vosotros sois el pueblo; y con vosotros morirá la sabiduría.
3También tengo yo seso como vosotros; no soy yo menos que vosotros: ¿y quién habrá que no pueda decir otro tanto?
4Yo soy uno de quien su amigo se mofa, que invoca á Dios, y él le responde: con todo, el justo y perfecto es escarnecido.
5Aquel cuyos pies van á resbalar, es como una lámpara despreciada de aquel que está á sus anchuras.
6Prosperan las tiendas de los ladrones, y los que provocan á Dios viven seguros; en cuyas manos él ha puesto cuanto tienen.
7Y en efecto, pregunta ahora á las bestias, que ellas te enseñarán; y á las aves de los cielos, que ellas te lo mostrarán:
8O habla á la tierra, que ella te enseñará; los peces de la mar te lo declararán también.
9¿Qué cosa de todas estas no entiende que la mano de Jehová la hizo?
10En su mano está el alma de todo viviente, y el espíritu de toda carne humana.
11Ciertamente el oído distingue las palabras, y el paladar gusta las viandas.
12En los viejos está la ciencia, y en la larga edad la inteligencia.
13Con Dios está la sabiduría y la fortaleza; suyo es el consejo y la inteligencia.
14He aquí, él derribará, y no será edificado: encerrará al hombre, y no habrá quien le abra.
15He aquí, él detendrá las aguas, y se secarán; él las enviará, y destruirán la tierra.
16Con él está la fortaleza y la existencia; suyo es el que yerra, y el que hace errar.
17El hace andar á los consejeros desnudos de consejo, y hace enloquecer á los jueces.
18El suelta la atadura de los tiranos, y ata el cinto á sus lomos.
19El lleva despojados á los príncipes, y trastorna á los poderosos.
20El impide el labio á los que dicen verdad, y quita á los ancianos el consejo.
21El derrama menosprecio sobre los príncipes, y enflaquece la fuerza de los esforzados.
22El descubre las profundidades de las tinieblas, y saca á luz la sombra de muerte.
23El multiplica las gentes, y él las destruye: él esparce las gentes, y las torna á recoger.
24El quita el seso de las cabezas del pueblo de la tierra, y háceles que se pierdan vagueando sin camino:
25Van á tientas como en tinieblas y sin luz, y los hace errar como borrachos.
King James Version
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.
World English Bible
1Then Job answered,
2“No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.
3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?
4I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
5In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
6The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.
7“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you.
9Who doesn’t know that in all these, the LORD’s hand has done this,
10in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
11Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
12With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
13“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
14Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
15Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
16With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
18He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.
19He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
20He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
22He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
23He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
24He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.