• 1 And Job answered and said,

  • 2 No doubt but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

  • 3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yes, who knows not such things as these?

  • 4 I am as one mocked of his neighbor, who calls on God, and he answers him: the just 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 brings abundantly.

  • 7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you:

  • 8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you: and the fishes of the sea shall declare to you.

  • 9 Who knows not in all these that the hand of the LORD has worked this?

  • 10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

  • 11 Does not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

  • 12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

  • 13 With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.

  • 14 Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again: he shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.

  • 15 Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up: also he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.

  • 16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

  • 17 He leads counsellors away spoiled, and makes the judges fools.

  • 18 He looses the bond of kings, and girds their loins with a girdle.

  • 19 He leads princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty.

  • 20 He removes away the speech of the trusty, and takes away the understanding of the aged.

  • 21 He pours contempt on princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty.

  • 22 He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.

  • 23 He increases the nations, and destroys them: he enlarges the nations, and straitens them again.

  • 24 He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

  • 25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.