1Then Job answered and said , 2No doubt but ye are the people , And wisdom shall die with you . 3But I have understanding as well as you ; I am not inferior to you : Yea , who knoweth not such things as these? 4I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor , I who called upon God, and he answered : The just , the perfect man is a laughing-stock. 5In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; It is ready for them whose foot slippeth. 6The tents of robbers prosper , And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly .
The Sovereignty of God in Creation
7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee ; And the birds of the heavens , and they shall tell thee : 8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 9Who knoweth not in all these , That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this , 10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing , And the breath of all mankind ? 11Doth not the ear try words , Even as the palate tasteth its food? 12With aged men is wisdom , And in length of days understanding .
God's Judgment and Wisdom
13With God is wisdom and might ; He hath counsel and understanding . 14Behold , he breaketh down , and it cannot be built again ; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening . 15Behold , he withholdeth the waters , and they dry up ; Again , he sendeth them out , and they overturn the earth. 16With him is strength and wisdom ; The deceived and the deceiver are his . 17He leadeth counsellors away stripped , And judges maketh he fools . 18He looseth the bond of kings , And he bindeth their loins with a girdle. 19He leadeth priests away stripped , And overthroweth the mighty.
The Power of God Over Nations
20He removeth the speech of the trusty, And taketh away the understanding of the elders . 21He poureth contempt upon princes , And looseth the belt of the strong. 22He uncovereth deep things out of darkness , And bringeth out to light the shadow of death . 23He increaseth the nations , and he destroyeth them : He enlargeth the nations , and he leadeth them captive. 24He taketh away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way . 25They grope in the dark without light; And he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man .