Job 12:13–20

13 “To God belong wisdom and power;

counsel and understanding are his.

14 What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;

those he imprisons cannot be released.

15 If he holds back the waters, there is drought;

if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.

16 To him belong strength and insight;

both deceived and deceiver are his.

17 He leads rulers away stripped

and makes fools of judges.

18 He takes off the shackles put on by kings

and ties a loincloth around their waist.

19 He leads priests away stripped

and overthrows officials long established.

20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers

and takes away the discernment of elders.

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 counsellers 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.

13 “But true wisdom and power are found in God;

counsel and understanding are his.

14 What he destroys cannot be rebuilt.

When he puts someone in prison, there is no escape.

15 If he holds back the rain, the earth becomes a desert.

If he releases the waters, they flood the earth.

16 Yes, strength and wisdom are his;

deceivers and deceived are both in his power.

17 He leads counselors away, stripped of good judgment;

wise judges become fools.

18 He removes the royal robe of kings.

They are led away with ropes around their waist.

19 He leads priests away, stripped of status;

he overthrows those with long years in power.

20 He silences the trusted adviser

and removes the insight of the elders.

13 “With Him are wisdom and strength,

He has counsel and understanding.

14 If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt;

If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.

15 If He withholds the waters, they dry up;

If He 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 princes away plundered,

And overthrows the mighty.

20 He deprives the trusted ones of speech,

And takes away the discernment of the elders.

13 “But only God has wisdom and power,

good advice and understanding.

14 What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;

anyone he puts in prison cannot be let out.

15 If God holds back the waters, there is no rain;

if he lets the waters go, they flood the land.

16 He is strong and victorious;

both the one who fools others and the one who is fooled belong to him.

17 God leads the wise away as captives

and turns judges into fools.

18 He takes off chains that kings put on

and puts a garment on their bodies.

19 He leads priests away naked

and destroys the powerful.

20 He makes trusted people be silent

and takes away the wisdom of elders.

13 With God is wisdom and might;

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;

Again, 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 stripped,

And judges maketh he fools.

18 He looseth the bond of kings,

And he bindeth their loins with a girdle.

19 He leadeth priests away stripped,

And overthroweth the mighty.

20 He removeth the speech of the trusty,

And taketh away the understanding of the elders.

13 With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding. 14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it is not built again; he shutteth up a man, and there is no opening. 15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; and he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. 16 With him is strength and effectual knowledge; the deceived and the deceiver are his. 17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools; 18 He weakeneth the government of kings, and bindeth their loins with a fetter; 19 He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty; 20 He depriveth of speech the trusty, and taketh away the judgment of the elders;

13 God has wisdom and strength. 

Advice and insight are his. 

14 When he tears ⸤something⸥ down, it cannot be rebuilt. 

When he puts someone in prison, that person cannot be freed. 

15 When he holds back the waters, there is a drought. 

When he releases them, they flood the earth. 

16 “God has power and priceless wisdom. 

He owns ⸤both⸥ the deceiver and the person who is deceived. 

17 He leads counselors away barefoot 

and makes fools out of judges. 

18 He loosens kings’ belts 

and strips them of their pants. 

19 He leads priests away barefoot 

and misleads those who serve in a temple. 

20 He makes trusted advisers unable to speak 

and takes away the good judgment of respected leaders. 

13 Wisdom and strength belong to God;

counsel and understanding are His.

14 Whatever He tears down cannot be rebuilt;

whoever He imprisons cannot be released.

15 When He withholds the waters, everything dries up,

and when He releases them, they destroy the land.

16 True wisdom and power belong to Him.

The deceived and the deceiver are His.

17 He leads counselors away barefoot

and makes judges go mad.

18 He releases the bonds put on by kings

and fastens a belt around their waists.

19 He leads priests away barefoot

and overthrows established leaders.

20 He deprives trusted advisers of speech

and takes away the elders’ good judgment.

13 “With God are wisdom and strength;

he has counsel and understanding.

14 If he tears down, no one can rebuild;

if he shuts someone in, no one can open up.

15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up;

if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.

16 With him are strength and wisdom;

the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leads counselors away stripped

and makes fools of judges.

18 He looses the sash of kings

and binds a waistcloth on their loins.

19 He leads priests away stripped

and overthrows the mighty.

20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted

and takes away the discernment of the elders.

13 “With him are wisdom and powerful deeds,

and to him belong counsel and understanding.

14 If he tears down, then it will not be rebuilt;

if he shuts a man in, then he cannot be freed.

15 Look, if he withholds the water, then they dry up;

and if he sends them out, then they overwhelm the land.

16 “Strength and sound wisdom are with him;

the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leads counselors away stripped,

and he makes fools of judges.

18 He loosens the fetters of kings,

and he binds a loincloth on their loins.

19 He leads priests away stripped,

and he overthrows the members of ancient families.

20 He deprives the trustworthy of speech,

and he takes away the discretion of elders.

13 “Wisdom and power belong to God.

Advice and understanding also belong to him.

14 What he tears down can’t be rebuilt.

Any man he puts in prison can’t be set free.

15 If he holds back the water, everything dries up.

If he lets the water loose, it floods the land.

16 Strength and success belong to him.

Those who tell lies and those who believe them also belong to him.

17 He removes the wisdom of advisers and leads them away.

He makes judges look foolish.

18 He sets people free from the chains that kings put on them.

Then he dresses the kings in the clothes of slaves.

19 He removes the authority of priests and leads them away.

He removes from their positions

those who have been in control for a long time.

20 He shuts the mouths of trusted advisers.

He takes away the understanding of elders.

13 “With Him are wisdom and might;

To Him belong counsel and understanding.

14 “Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt;

He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

15 “Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up;

And He sends them out, and they inundate the earth.

16 “With Him are strength and sound wisdom,

The misled and the misleader belong to Him.

17 “He makes counselors walk barefoot

And makes fools of judges.

18 “He loosens the bond of kings

And binds their loins with a girdle.

19 “He makes priests walk barefoot

And overthrows the secure ones.

20 “He deprives the trusted ones of speech

And takes away the discernment of the elders.