✧And 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 mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright [man is] laughed to scorn. ✧5He that is ready to slip with [his] feet [is as] a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. ✧6The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly]. ✧7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, 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 the LORD 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? and the mouth taste his meat? ✧12With the ancient [is] wisdom; and in length of days understanding. ✧13With him [is] wisdom and strength, 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: also 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 spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. ✧18He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. ✧19He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. ✧20He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. ✧21He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. ✧22He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. ✧23He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them [again]. ✧24He 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. ✧25They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like [a] drunken [man].