“But just ask the animals, and have them teach you;
And the birds of the sky, and have them tell you.
Or speak to the earth, and have it teach you;
And have the fish of the sea tell you.
Who among all these does not know
That (A)the hand of the Lord has done this,
10 (B)In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And (C)the breath of all mankind?
11 Does (D)the ear not put words to the test,
As the palate [a]tastes its food?
12 Wisdom is with the (E)aged,
And with [b]long life comes understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 12:11 Lit tastes food for itself
  2. Job 12:12 Lit length of days

Wisdom Can Be Found in God’s Creation

“Ask the wild animals, and they’ll teach you;
    the birds of the sky will tell you.
Or ask the green plants of the earth and they’ll teach you;
    let the fish in the sea tell you.
Who among all of these doesn’t know
    that the Lord’s hand made them,[a]
10 and that the life of every living thing[b] rests in his control,
    along with the breath of every living human being?
11 The ear scrutinizes speech
    just as the palate tastes food.”

God is the All-Wise and All-Powerful Creator

12 “Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged.
    Understanding comes[c] with longevity.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 12:9 Lit. this
  2. Job 12:10 Lit. all the living
  3. Job 12:12 The Heb. lacks comes