¹ And Job answered and said, ² No doubt but you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. ³ But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yes, who doesn't know such things as these? ⁴ I am as one mocked of his neighbour, 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 those provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings [abundantly]. ⁷ But ask now the beasts, and they will teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they will tell you ⁸ Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you: and the fishes of the sea will declare to you. ⁹ Who know 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 test 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 See, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again: he shuts up a man, and there can be no opening. ¹⁵ See, 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 loosens 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 straightens 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].