Job on the Wisdom of God

Job 12

Job answers scornfully that wisdom is not confined to his friends alone, appealing to the beasts, birds, and fish as witnesses that the hand of the Lord governs all life. He describes at length how the Lord's power overturns mountains, humbles kings and counsellors, and leads nations and their rulers to wander in darkness.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTO this Job replied:

BrentonAnd Job answered and said,

GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ Ἰὼβ, λέγει,

KJVAnd Job answered and said,

JPSThen Job answered and said:

ThomsonYou, forsooth, are men, and wisdom will die with you.

BrentonSo then ye alone are men, and wisdom shall die with you?

GreekΕἶτα ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἄνθρωποι, ἢ μεθʼ ὑμῶν τελευτήσει σοφία;

KJVNo doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

JPSNo doubt but ye are the people, And wisdom shall die with you.

ThomsonBut I indeed have understanding as well as you.

BrentonBut I also have a heart as well as you.

GreekΚᾀμοὶ μὲν καρδία καθʼ ὑμᾶς ἐστι.

KJVBut I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

JPSBut I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; Yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

Thomson—

BrentonFor a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.

GreekΔίκαιος γὰρ ἀνὴρ καὶ ἄμεμπτος ἐγεννήθη εἰς χλεύασμα·

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor it hath been ordered that for a time he shall fall beneath others: and that his houses shall be wasted by transgressors.

BrentonFor it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be held guiltless,

GreekΕἰς χρόνον γὰρ τακτὸν ἡτοίμαστο πεσεῖν ὑπὸ ἄλλων, οἴκους τε αὐτοῦ ἐκπορθεῖσθαι ὑπὸ ἀνόμων·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

Brentoneven as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition made of them.

Greekοὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ μηδεὶς πεποιθέτω πονηρὸς ὢν ἀθῶος ἔσεσθαι, ὅσοι παροργίζουσι τὸν Κύριον, ὡς οὐχὶ καὶ ἔτασις αὐτῶν ἔσται.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBut ask, I pray thee, the beasts of the field, if they could speak to thee—and the birds of the air, if they could tell thee—

BrentonBut ask now the beasts, if they may speak to thee; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to thee.

GreekἈλλὰ δὴ ἐρώτησον τετράποδα ἐάν σοι εἴπωσι, πετεινὰ δὲ οὐρανοῦ ἐάν σοι ἀπαγγείλωσιν.

KJVBut ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

JPSBut ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; And the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee;

Thomsonspeak to the earth, if it could converse with thee—even the fishes of the sea can tell thee.

BrentonTell the earth, if it may speak to thee: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to thee.

GreekἘκδιήγησαι γῇ, ἐάν σοι φράσῃ, καὶ ἐξηγήσονταί σοι οἱ ἰχθύες τῆς θαλάσσης.

KJVOr speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

JPSOr speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;

ThomsonWho then among all these doth not know that the hand of the Lord hath done these things?

BrentonWho then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?

GreekΤίς οὖν οὐκ ἔγνω ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις, ὅτι χεὶρ Κυρίου ἐποίησε ταῦτα;

KJVWho knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

JPSWho knoweth not among all these, That the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

ThomsonIs not the life of all living beings in His hand—and the breath of every man?

BrentonWhereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.

GreekΕἰ μὴ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ψυχὴ πάντων ζώντων, καὶ πνεῦμα παντὸς ἀνθρώπου.

KJVIn whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

JPSIn whose hand is the soul of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind.—

ThomsonThe ear indeed discerneth words, and the palate tasteth meats.

BrentonFor the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.

GreekΟὖς μὲν γὰρ ῥήματα διακρίνει, λάρυγξ δὲ σῖτα γεύεται.

KJVDoth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

JPSDoth not the ear try words, Even as the palate tasteth its food?

ThomsonBy length of time wisdom is acquired; and by long life, experience.

BrentonIn length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.

GreekἘν πολλῷ χρόνῳ σοφία, ἐν δὲ πολλῷ βίῳ ἐπιστήμη.

KJVWith the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

JPSIs wisdom with aged men, And understanding in length of days?—

Thomson[But] with Him is wisdom and power—with Him counsel and understanding.

BrentonWith him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.

GreekΠαρʼ αὐτῷ σοφία καὶ δύναμις, αὐτῷ βουλὴ καὶ σύνεσις.

KJVWith him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

JPSWith Him is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.

ThomsonIf He demolish, who can rebuild? If He shut against men, who can open?

BrentonIf he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against men, who shall open?

GreekἘὰν καταβάλῃ, τίς οἰκοδομήσει; ἐὰν κλείσῃ κατʼ ἀνθρώπων, τίς ἀνοίξει;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonIf He withhold water, He drieth the earth. And when He let it loose, he overthrew and destroyed it.

BrentonIf he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.

GreekἘὰν κωλύσῃ τὸ ὕδωρ, ξηρανεῖ τὴν γῆν· ἐὰν δὲ ἐπαφῇ, ἀπώλεσεν αὐτὴν καταστρέψας.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWith Him is strength and power—with Him knowledge and understanding.

BrentonWith him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.

GreekΠαρʼ αὐτῷ κράτος καὶ ἰσχὺς, αὐτῷ ἐπιστήμη καὶ σύνεσις.

KJVWith him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

JPSWith Him is strength and sound wisdom; The deceived and the deceiver are His.

ThomsonHe hath led counsellors away captive, and confounded the judges of the earth.

BrentonHe leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.

GreekΔιάγων βουλευτὰς αἰχμαλώτους, κριτὰς δὲ γῆς ἐξέστησε.

KJVHe leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

JPSHe leadeth counsellors away stripped, And judges maketh He fools.

ThomsonIt is He Who settleth kings on thrones and girded their loins with a girdle—

BrentonHe seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.

GreekΚαθιζάνων βασιλεῖς ἐπὶ θρόνους, καὶ περιεδησε ζώνῃ ὀσφύας αὐτῶν.

KJVHe looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.

JPSHe looseth the bond of kings, And bindeth their loins with a girdle.

ThomsonWho sendeth priests into captivity and overthrew the sovereigns of the earth—

BrentonHe sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.

GreekἘξαποστέλλων ἱερεῖς αἰχμαλώτους, δυνάστας δὲ γῆς κατέστρεψε.

KJVHe leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

JPSHe leadeth priests away stripped, And overthroweth the mighty.

ThomsonWho changeth the lips of liege men and knoweth the wisdom of elders—

BrentonHe changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.

GreekΔιαλλάσσων χείλη πιστῶν, σύνεσιν δὲ πρεσβυτέρων ἔγνω.

KJVHe removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonHe pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.

GreekἘκχέων ἀτιμίαν ἐπʼ ἄρχοντας, ταπεινοὺς δὲ ἰάσατο.

KJVHe poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

JPSHe poureth contempt upon princes, And looseth the belt of the strong.

ThomsonWho revealeth deep things from darkness; and hath brought to light the shades of death—

BrentonRevealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.

GreekἈνακαλύπτων βαθέα ἐκ σκότους, ἐξήγαγε δὲ εἰς φῶς σκιὰν θανάτου.

KJVHe discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

JPSHe uncovereth deep things out of darkness, And bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

Thomson—

BrentonCausing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them away.

GreekΠλανῶν ἔθνη καὶ ἀπολλύων αὐτὰ, καταστρωννύων ἔθνη καὶ καθοδηγῶν αὐτά.

KJV—

JPSHe increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.

Thomson—

BrentonPerplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way they have not known, saying,

GreekΔιαλλάσσων καρδίας ἀρχόντων γῆς· ἐπλάνησε δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐν ὁδῷ ᾗ οὐκ ᾔδεισαν.

KJVHe 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.

JPS—

Thomsonthat they might grope in darkness without light; and that they might stagger like a drunken man.

BrentonLet them grope in darkness, and let there be no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.

GreekΨηλαφήσαισαν σκότος καὶ μὴ φῶς, πλανηθείησαν δὲ ὥσπερ ὁ μεθύων.

KJVThey grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

JPSThey grope in the dark without light, And He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.