Job 12:9-18
Job 12:9-18 New International Version (NIV)
Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; those he imprisons cannot be released. If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land. To him belong strength and insight; both deceived and deceiver are his. He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges. He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist.
Job 12:7-25 The Message (MSG)
“But ask the animals what they think—let them teach you; let the birds tell you what’s going on. Put your ear to the earth—learn the basics. Listen—the fish in the ocean will tell you their stories. Isn’t it clear that they all know and agree that GOD is sovereign, that he holds all things in his hand— Every living soul, yes, every breathing creature? Isn’t this all just common sense, as common as the sense of taste? Do you think the elderly have a corner on wisdom, that you have to grow old before you understand life? “True wisdom and real power belong to God; from him we learn how to live, and also what to live for. If he tears something down, it’s down for good; if he locks people up, they’re locked up for good. If he holds back the rain, there’s a drought; if he lets it loose, there’s a flood. Strength and success belong to God; both deceived and deceiver must answer to him. He strips experts of their vaunted credentials, exposes judges as witless fools. He divests kings of their royal garments, then ties a rag around their waists. He strips priests of their robes, and fires high officials from their jobs. He forces trusted sages to keep silence, deprives elders of their good sense and wisdom. He dumps contempt on famous people, disarms the strong and mighty. He shines a spotlight into caves of darkness, hauls deepest darkness into the noonday sun. He makes nations rise and then fall, builds up some and abandons others. He robs world leaders of their reason, and sends them off into no-man’s-land. They grope in the dark without a clue, lurching and staggering like drunks.”
Job 12:9-18 King James Version (KJV)
Who knoweth not in all these That the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind. Doth not the ear try words? And the mouth taste his meat? With the ancient is wisdom; And in length of days understanding. With him is wisdom and strength, He hath counsel and understanding. Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: Also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. With him is strength and wisdom: The deceived and the deceiver are his. He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, And maketh the judges fools. He looseth the bond of kings, And girdeth their loins with a girdle.
Job 12:9-18 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind? Does not the ear test words, As the palate tastes its food? Wisdom is with aged men, With long life is understanding. “With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding. Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; He imprisons a man, and there can be no release. Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up; And He sends them out, and they inundate the earth. With Him are strength and sound wisdom, The misled and the misleader belong to Him. He makes counselors walk barefoot And makes fools of judges. He loosens the bond of kings And binds their loins with a girdle.
Job 12:9-18 New Century Version (NCV)
Every one of these knows that the hand of the LORD has done this. The life of every creature and the breath of all people are in God’s hand. The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. Older people are wise, and long life brings understanding. “But only God has wisdom and power, good advice and understanding. What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; anyone he puts in prison cannot be let out. If God holds back the waters, there is no rain; if he lets the waters go, they flood the land. He is strong and victorious; both the one who fools others and the one who is fooled belong to him. God leads the wise away as captives and turns judges into fools. He takes off chains that kings put on and puts a garment on their bodies.
Job 12:9-18 American Standard Version (ASV)
Who knoweth not in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this, In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind? Doth not the ear try words, Even as the palate tasteth its food? With aged men is wisdom, And in length of days understanding. With God is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding. Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. With him is strength and wisdom; The deceived and the deceiver are his. He leadeth counsellors away stripped, And judges maketh he fools. He looseth the bond of kings, And he bindeth their loins with a girdle.
Job 12:9-18 New King James Version (NKJV)
Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind? Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food? Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding. “With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding. If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt; If He imprisons a man, there can be no release. If He withholds the waters, they dry up; If He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth. With Him are strength and prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are His. He leads counselors away plundered, And makes fools of the judges. He loosens the bonds of kings, And binds their waist with a belt.
Job 12:9-18 Amplified Bible (AMP)
“Who among all these does not recognize [in all these things that good and evil are randomly scattered throughout nature and human life] That the hand of the LORD has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind? “Does the ear not put words to the test, Just as the palate tastes its food [distinguishing between the desirable and the undesirable]? “With the aged [you say] is wisdom, And with long life is understanding. ¶“But [only] with Him are [perfect] wisdom and might; He [alone] has [true] counsel and understanding. “Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; He imprisons a man, and there can be no release. “Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up; Again, He sends the waters out, and they overwhelm and devastate the earth. “With Him are might and sound wisdom, The misled and the misleader are His [and in His power]. “He makes [great and scheming] counselors walk barefoot And makes fools of judges. “He loosens the bond of kings And binds their loins with a loincloth.
Job 12:9-18 New Living Translation (NLT)
For they all know that my disaster has come from the hand of the LORD. For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being. The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods. Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. “But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his. What he destroys cannot be rebuilt. When he puts someone in prison, there is no escape. If he holds back the rain, the earth becomes a desert. If he releases the waters, they flood the earth. Yes, strength and wisdom are his; deceivers and deceived are both in his power. He leads counselors away, stripped of good judgment; wise judges become fools. He removes the royal robe of kings. They are led away with ropes around their waist.
Job 12:9-18 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food? Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open. If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools. He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips.