1. Then Job answered,
2. "No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.
3. But I have understanding as well as you. I am not less than you. Who does not know such things as these?
4. Even my friends laugh at me. The man who called on God, and God answered him, the man who is right and without blame is laughed at.
5. He who lives in comfort laughs at one who has trouble and whose feet are slipping.
6. The tents of those who destroy have much. Those who make God angry are safe and have their god in their own hands.
7. "But ask the wild animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.
8. Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you. Let the fish of the sea make it known to you.
9. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10. In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all men.
11. Does not the ear test words as the mouth tastes food?
12. Wisdom is with old men, and understanding with long life.
13. "With God are wisdom and strength. Wise words and understanding belong to Him.
14. See, He tears down, and it cannot be built again. He puts a man in prison, and no one can free him.
15. See, He stops the waters and they dry up. He sends them out, and they cover the earth.
16. Strength and wisdom are with Him. Both the fool and the one who fools him belong to God.
17. He takes wisdom away from leaders and makes fools of judges.
18. He takes off chains put on by kings, and holds back the power of kings.
19. He makes religious leaders walk without pride, and takes the power away from those who think they are safe.
20. He stops the trusted ones from speaking and takes away the wisdom of the leaders.
21. He pours anger on rulers, and takes away the strength of the strong.
22. He makes known hidden truth from the darkness, and brings deep darkness to light.
23. He makes the nations great, and then destroys them. He helps nations to become large, then leads them away.
24. He takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth, and makes them travel in a waste-land with no path.
25. They feel their way in darkness with no light. And He makes them walk from side to side like a drunk man.