(KJV) Job 12¹

⥃Job Presents His Case

[1] And Job answered and said, [2] No doubt but ye [are] the people², and wisdom shall die with you. [3] But I have³ understanding⁴ as well as you; I [am] not inferior to you⁵: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? [4] I am [as] one mocked⁶ of his neighbour, who calleth⁷ upon God, and he answereth him: the just⁸ upright [man is] laughed to scorn. [5] He that is ready⁹ to slip with [his] feet [is as] a lamp¹⁰ despised in the thought of him¹¹ that is at ease. [6] The tabernacles¹² of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly]. [7] But ask¹³ now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: [8] Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. [9] Who¹⁴ knoweth not in all these that the hand¹⁵ of the Lord hath wrought this? [10] In whose hand¹⁶ [is] the soul¹⁷ of every living thing, and the breath¹⁸ of all mankind¹⁹. [11] Doth²⁰ not the ear try words? and the mouth²¹ taste his meat? [12] With the ancient [is] wisdom; and in length of days understanding.²² [13] With him²³ [is] wisdom²⁴ and strength, he hath counsel²⁵ and understanding. [14] Behold, he breaketh²⁶ down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth²⁷ up²⁸ a man, and there can be no opening. [15] Behold²⁹, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth³⁰ them out, and they overturn the earth. [16] With³¹ him [is] strength and wisdom: the deceived³² and the deceiver [are] his. [17] He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.³³ [18] He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.³⁴ [19] He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.³⁵ [20] He removeth away the speech of the trusty³⁶, and taketh³⁷ away the understanding of the aged. [21] He poureth³⁸ contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty³⁹. [22] He discovereth⁴⁰ deep things out of darkness, and bringeth⁴¹ out to light the shadow of death. [23] He increaseth⁴² the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them [again⁴³]. [24] He taketh⁴⁴ away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth⁴⁵ them to wander in a wilderness⁴⁶ [where there is] no way. [25] They grope⁴⁷ in the dark without light, and he maketh⁴⁸ them to stagger⁴⁹ like [a] drunken [man].