伯12:1 约伯回答说：
伯12:1 And Job made answer and said,
伯12:2 “你们真的是有知识的民，你们死了，智慧也跟你们一同灭亡。
伯12:2 No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.
伯12:3 但我也有聪明像你们一样，我并非不及你们，像你们所说的这些事，有谁不晓得呢？
伯12:3 But I have a mind as well as you; I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?
伯12:4 我这求告 神，又蒙他应允的，竟成为朋友的笑柄，公义完全的人竟成为笑柄，
伯12:4 It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!
伯12:5 平静的人心中藐视灾祸，作将滑跌者的分。
伯12:5 In the thought of him who is in comfort there is no respect for one who is in trouble; such is the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
伯12:6 强盗的帐幕兴旺，惹 神发怒的安稳， 神的手赏赐他们。
伯12:6 There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe; even those whose god is their strength.
伯12:7 你且问走兽，走兽必指教你，又问空中的飞鸟，飞鸟必告诉你；
伯12:7 But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;
伯12:8 或向地说话，地必指教你，海中的鱼也必向你说明。
伯12:8 Or to the things which go flat on the earth, and they will give you wisdom; and the fishes of the sea will give you news of it.
伯12:9 从这一切看来，谁不知道，是耶和华的手作成这事的呢？
伯12:9 Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?
伯12:10 活物的生命与全人类的气息，都在耶和华的手中。
伯12:10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.
伯12:11 耳朵不是试验说话，好像上膛尝试食物吗？
伯12:11 Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?
伯12:12 你们说：老年的有智慧，长寿的有聪明。
伯12:12 Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.
伯12:13 他有智慧与能力，又有谋略与聪明。
伯12:13 With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.
伯12:14 他所拆毁的，就不能重建，他所囚禁的，就不能释放。
伯12:14 Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him; when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.
伯12:15 他若把水阻截，水就干涸，他再把水放出，水就使地翻倒。
伯12:15 Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.
伯12:16 他有大能与智谋，受骗的与骗人的，都是属他的。
伯12:16 With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;
伯12:17 他把谋士剥衣掳去，并且愚弄审判官。
伯12:17 He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;
伯12:18 他解开了君王绑人的绳索，又用腰布捆绑君王的腰。
伯12:18 He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;
伯12:19 他把祭司剥衣掳去，倾覆有权有势的人。
伯12:19 He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;
伯12:20 他除掉忠信人的言论，又除去老年人的辨别力。
伯12:20 He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;
伯12:21 他把羞辱倾倒在王子上，又松开壮士的腰带。
伯12:21 He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;
伯12:22 他从黑暗中彰显奥秘，把死荫领进光中。
伯12:22 Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;
伯12:23 他使邦国兴盛，又毁灭他们，扩张邦国，又把他们掳去。
伯12:23 Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.
伯12:24 他除掉地上人民中首领的悟性，使他们在无路的荒野之地飘流。
伯12:24 He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.
伯12:25 他们在黑暗无光中摸索，他使他们飘泊无定像醉汉一样。”
伯12:25 They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.