Job 12:9–16

9 Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10 In his hand is the life of every creature

and the breath of all mankind.

11 Does not the ear test words

as the tongue tastes food?

12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?

Does not long life bring understanding?

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.

9 Who among all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10 In his hand is the life of every living thing

and the breath of all mankind.

11 Does not the ear test words

as the palate tastes food?

12 Wisdom is with the aged,

and understanding in length of days.

13 “With God are wisdom and might;

he has counsel and understanding.

14 If he tears down, none can rebuild;

if he shuts a man in, none can open.

15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up;

if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.

16 With him are strength and sound wisdom;

the deceived and the deceiver are his.

9 Who knoweth not in all these

That the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing,

And the breath of all mankind.

11 Doth not the ear try words?

And the mouth taste his meat?

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.

9 For they all know

that my disaster has come from the hand of the Lord.

10 For the life of every living thing is in his hand,

and the breath of every human being.

11 The ear tests the words it hears

just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.

12 Wisdom belongs to the aged,

and understanding to the old.

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.

9 Who among all these does not know

That the hand of the Lord has done this,

10 In whose hand is the life of every living thing,

And the breath of all mankind?

11 Does not the ear test words

And the mouth taste its food?

12 Wisdom is with aged men,

And with length of days, understanding.

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.

9 Every one of these knows

that the hand of the Lord has done this.

10 The life of every creature

and the breath of all people are in God’s hand.

11 The ear tests words

as the tongue tastes food.

12 Older people are wise,

and long life brings understanding.

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.

9 Who knoweth not in all these,

That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this,

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing,

And the breath of all mankind?

11 Doth not the ear try words,

Even as the palate tasteth its food?

12 With aged men is wisdom,

And in length of days understanding.

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.

9 Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this? 10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man. 11 Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food?

12 With the aged is wisdom, and in length of days understanding. 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.

9 What creature doesn’t know that the Lord’s hands made it? 

10 The life of every living creature 

and the spirit in every human body are in his hands. 

11 Doesn’t the ear distinguish sounds 

and the tongue taste food? 

12 “Wisdom is with the ancient one. 

The one who has had many days has insight.

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. 

9 Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10 The life of every living thing is in His hand,

as well as the breath of all mankind.

11 Doesn’t the ear test words

as the palate tastes food?

12 Wisdom is found with the elderly,

and understanding comes with long life.

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.

9 Who among all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10 In his hand is the life of every living thing

and the breath of every human being.

11 Does not the ear test words

as the palate tastes food?

12 Is wisdom with the aged

and understanding in length of days?

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.

9 Who among all of these does not know

that Yahweh’s hand has done this?

10 In whose hand is the life of all living things

and the breath of every human being?

11 Does not the ear test words

and the palate taste food for itself?

12 Wisdom is with the aged,

and understanding is in length of days.

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.

9 Are there any of those creatures that don’t know

what the powerful hand of the Lord has done?

10 He holds the life of every creature in his hand.

He controls the breath of every human being.

11 Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn’t.

And our ears tell us what’s true and what isn’t.

12 Old people are wise.

Those who live a long time have understanding.

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.