1Then Job answered, and said,
2Indeed because that ye are the people only, wisdom must die with you.
3But I have understanding as well as you, and am not inferior unto you: yea, who knoweth not such things?
4I am as one mocked of his neighbor, who calleth upon God, and he heareth him: the just and the upright is laughed to scorn.
5He that is ready to fall, is as a lamp despised in the opinion of the rich.
6The tabernacles of robbers do prosper, and they are in safety, that provoke God, whom God hath enriched with his hand.
7Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the fowls of the heaven, and they shall tell thee:
8Or speak to the earth, and it shall show thee: or the fishes of the sea, and they shall declare unto thee.
9Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hand of the Lord hath made these?
10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
11Doth not the ears discern the words, and the mouth taste meat for itself?
12Among the ancient is wisdom, and in the length of days is understanding.
13With him is wisdom and strength: he hath counsel and understanding.
14Behold, he will break down, and it cannot be built: he shutteth a man up, and he cannot be loosed.
15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth.
16With him is strength and wisdom: he that is deceived, and that deceiveth, are his.
17He causeth the counselors to go as spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
18He looseth the collar of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
19He leadeth away the princes as a prey, and overthroweth the mighty.
20He taketh away the speech from the faithful counselors, and taketh away the judgment of the ancient.
21He poureth contempt upon princes, and maketh the strength of the mighty weak.
22He discovereth the deep places from their darkness, and bringeth forth the shadow of death to light.
23He increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in again.
24He taketh away the hearts of them that are the chief over the people of the earth, and maketh them to wander in the wilderness out of the way.
25They grope in the dark without light: and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.