1 Then Job answered and said,

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

3 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 as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon God, and he answered him: the just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

5 In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for them whose foot slippeth.

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

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

8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9 Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of LORD hath wrought this?

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

11 Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its meat?

12 With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.

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

15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

16 With him is strength and effectual working; the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools.

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

19 He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

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

21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.

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

23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth the nations abroad, and bringeth them in.

24 He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

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