1 A nd Job answered and said,

2 N o 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: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

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

7 B ut 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 shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9 W ho knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

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

11 D oth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

12 W ith the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

13 W ith him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

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

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

16 W ith him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 H e leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

18 H e looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.

19 H e leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

20 H e removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

21 H e poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

22 H e discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

23 H e increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

24 H e 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 maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.