1 T hen Job answered,

And Job answered and said,

2 N o doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!

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

3 B ut I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these ?

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 become one who is a laughingstock to his friend; I, one whom God answered when he called upon Him—a just, upright (blameless) man—laughed to scorn!

I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

5 I n the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune—but it is ready for those whose feet slip.

He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

6 T he dwellings of robbers prosper; those who provoke God are secure; God supplies them abundantly.

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

7 F or ask now the animals, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

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

8 O r speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.

or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9 W ho not to recognize in all these that it is God’s hand which does it ?

Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

10 I n His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

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

11 I s it not the task of the ear to discriminate between words, just as the mouth distinguishes food?

Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

12 W ith the aged is wisdom, and with length of days comes understanding.

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

13 B ut with are wisdom and might; He has counsel and understanding.

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

14 B ehold, He tears down, and it cannot be built again; He shuts a man in, and none can open.

Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

15 H e withholds the waters, and the land dries up; again, He sends forth, and they overwhelm the land or transform it.

Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

16 W ith Him are might and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.

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

17 H e leads counselors away stripped and barefoot and makes the judges fools.

He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

18 H e looses the fetters by kings and has waistcloth bound about their loins.

He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.

19 H e leads away priests as spoil, and men firmly seated He overturns.

He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

20 H e deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment and discretion of the aged.

He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

21 H e pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.

He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

22 H e uncovers deep things out of darkness and brings into light black gloom and the shadow of death.

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

23 H e makes nations great, and He destroys them; He enlarges nations, and leads them.

He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

24 H e takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the land and of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.

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 T hey grope in the dark without light, and He makes them to stagger and wander like a drunken man.

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