Job 12:19–25

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.

21 He pours contempt on nobles

and disarms the mighty.

22 He reveals the deep things of darkness

and brings utter darkness into the light.

23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;

he enlarges nations, and disperses them.

24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;

he makes them wander in a trackless waste.

25 They grope in darkness with no light;

he makes them stagger like drunkards.

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.

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.

21 He pours disgrace upon princes

and disarms the strong.

22 “He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness;

he brings light to the deepest gloom.

23 He builds up nations, and he destroys them.

He expands nations, and he abandons them.

24 He strips kings of understanding

and leaves them wandering in a pathless wasteland.

25 They grope in the darkness without a light.

He makes them stagger like drunkards.

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.

21 He pours contempt on princes,

And disarms the mighty.

22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness,

And brings the shadow of death to light.

23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;

He enlarges nations, and guides them.

24 He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,

And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.

25 They grope in the dark without light,

And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

19 He leads priests away naked

and destroys the powerful.

20 He makes trusted people be silent

and takes away the wisdom of elders.

21 He brings disgrace on important people

and takes away the weapons of the strong.

22 He uncovers the deep things of darkness

and brings dark shadows into the light.

23 He makes nations great and then destroys them;

he makes nations large and then scatters them.

24 He takes understanding away from the leaders of the earth

and makes them wander through a pathless desert.

25 They feel around in darkness with no light;

he makes them stumble like drunks.

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.

21 He poureth contempt upon princes,

And looseth the belt of the strong.

22 He uncovereth deep things out of darkness,

And bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

23 He increaseth the nations, and he destroyeth them:

He enlargeth the nations, and he leadeth them captive.

24 He taketh away understanding from the chiefs 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.

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; 21 He poureth contempt upon nobles, and slackeneth the girdle of the mighty; 22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out into light the shadow of death; 23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he spreadeth out the nations, and bringeth them in; 24 He taketh away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a pathless waste. 25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunkard.

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. 

21 He pours contempt on influential people 

and unbuckles the belt of the mighty. 

22 He uncovers mysteries ⸤hidden⸥ in the darkness 

and brings gloom into the light. 

23 He makes nations important and then destroys them. 

He makes nations large and leads them away. 

24 He takes away the common sense of a country’s leaders 

and makes them stumble about in a pathless wilderness. 

25 They grope in the dark with no light, 

and he makes them stumble like drunks. 

19 He leads priests away barefoot

and overthrows established leaders.

20 He deprives trusted advisers of speech

and takes away the elders’ good judgment.

21 He pours out contempt on nobles

and disarms the strong.

22 He reveals mysteries from the darkness

and brings the deepest darkness into the light.

23 He makes nations great, then destroys them;

He enlarges nations, then leads them away.

24 He deprives the world’s leaders of reason,

and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.

25 They grope around in darkness without light;

He makes them stagger like drunken men.

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.

21 He pours contempt on princes

and looses the belt of the strong.

22 He uncovers deep things from the darkness

and brings deep darkness to light.

23 He makes nations great, then destroys them;

he enlarges nations, then leads them away.

24 He strips understanding from the leaders of the earth

and makes them wander in a pathless waste.

25 They grope in the dark without light;

he makes them stagger like a drunkard.

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.

21 He pours contempt on noblemen,

and he loosens the girdle of the mighty.

22 “He uncovers mysteries out of darkness,

and he brings deep shadow to the light.

23 He makes the nations great, then he destroys them;

he expands the nations, then he guides them.

24 He strips away the insight of the heads of the earth’s people,

and he makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.

25 They grope in the dark without light,

and he makes them stagger like a drunkard.

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.

21 He looks down on proud leaders.

He takes away the strength of those who are mighty.

22 He tells people the secrets of darkness.

He brings evil plans out into the light.

23 He makes nations great, and then he destroys them.

He makes nations grow, and then he scatters them.

24 He takes away the understanding of the leaders of the earth.

He makes them wander in a desert where no one lives.

25 Without any light, they feel their way along in darkness.

God makes them unsteady like those who get drunk.

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.

21 “He pours contempt on nobles

And loosens the belt of the strong.

22 “He reveals mysteries from the darkness

And brings the deep darkness into light.

23 “He makes the nations great, then destroys them;

He enlarges the nations, then leads them away.

24 “He deprives of intelligence the chiefs of the earth’s people

And makes them wander in a pathless waste.

25 “They grope in darkness with no light,

And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.