[1] Then 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 that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon God, and he answered him: the just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
[5] In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for them whose foot slippeth.
[6] The tents 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 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 try words, even as the palate tasteth its meat?
[12] With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
[13] With him is wisdom and might; 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; again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
[16] With him is strength and effectual working; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
[17] He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools.
[18] He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
[19] He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
[20] He removeth the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the elders.
[21] He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
[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 spreadeth the nations abroad, and bringeth them in.
[24] He taketh away the heart of the chiefs 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.