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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?(A)
    Does not long life bring understanding?(B)

13 “To God belong wisdom(C) and power;(D)
    counsel and understanding are his.(E)
14 What he tears down(F) cannot be rebuilt;(G)
    those he imprisons cannot be released.(H)
15 If he holds back the waters,(I) there is drought;(J)
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.(K)
16 To him belong strength and insight;(L)
    both deceived and deceiver are his.(M)
17 He leads rulers away stripped(N)
    and makes fools of judges.(O)
18 He takes off the shackles(P) put on by kings
    and ties a loincloth[a] around their waist.(Q)
19 He leads priests away stripped(R)
    and overthrows officials long established.(S)
20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers
    and takes away the discernment of elders.(T)
21 He pours contempt on nobles(U)
    and disarms the mighty.(V)
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness(W)
    and brings utter darkness(X) into the light.(Y)
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;(Z)
    he enlarges nations,(AA) and disperses them.(AB)
24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;(AC)
    he makes them wander in a trackless waste.(AD)
25 They grope in darkness with no light;(AE)
    he makes them stagger like drunkards.(AF)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 12:18 Or shackles of kings / and ties a belt

12 Wisdom is with aged men,
And with [a]length of days, understanding.

13 “With Him are (A)wisdom and strength,
He has counsel and understanding.
14 If (B)He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt;
If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.
15 If He (C)withholds the waters, they dry up;
If He (D)sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.
16 With Him are strength and prudence.
The deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 He leads counselors away plundered,
And makes fools of the judges.
18 He loosens the bonds of kings,
And binds their waist with a belt.
19 He leads [b]princes away plundered,
And overthrows the mighty.
20 (E)He deprives the trusted ones of speech,
And takes away the discernment of the elders.
21 (F)He pours contempt on princes,
And [c]disarms the mighty.
22 He (G)uncovers deep things out of darkness,
And brings the shadow of death to light.
23 (H)He makes nations great, and destroys them;
He [d]enlarges nations, and guides them.
24 He takes away the [e]understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,
And (I)makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.
25 (J)They grope in the dark without light,
And He makes them (K)stagger like a drunken man.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 12:12 Long life
  2. Job 12:19 Lit. priests, but not in a technical sense
  3. Job 12:21 loosens the belt of
  4. Job 12:23 Lit. spreads out
  5. Job 12:24 Lit. heart