[1] And Job answered and said: [2] "No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. [3] But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; yea, who knoweth not such things as these? [4] I am as one mocked by his neighbor, who calleth upon God, and He answereth him; the just and upright man is laughed to scorn. [5] He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. [6] The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. [7] "But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee. [8] Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. [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 test words, and the mouth taste his meat? [12] With the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days, understanding. [13] "With Him are 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 are strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His. [17] He leadeth counselors away despoiled, and maketh the judges fools. [18] He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. [19] He leadeth princes away despoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. [20] He removeth away the speech of the trusted, 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.
