1So Job answered, and said:
2Then (no doubt) ye are the men alone, and wisdom shall perish with you.
3But I have understanding as well as ye, and am no less than ye. Yea who knoweth not these things?
4Thus he that calleth upon God, and whom God heareth, is mocked of his neighbour: the godly and innocent man is laughed to scorn.
5Godliness is a light despised in the hearts of the rich, and is set for them to stumble upon.
6The houses of robbers are in wealth and prosperity, and they that maliciously meddle against God, dwell without care: yea God giveth all things richly with his hand.
7Ask the cattle, and they shall inform thee: the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
8Speak to the earth, and it shall shew thee: Or to the fishes of the sea, and they shall certify thee.
9What is he, but he knoweth that the hand of the LORD made all these?
10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all men.
11Have not the ears pleasure in hearing, and the mouth in tasting the thing that it eateth?
12Among old persons there is wisdom, and among the aged is understanding.
13Yea with God is wisdom and strength, it is he that hath counsel and foreknowledge.
14If he break down a thing, who can set it up again? If he shut a thing, who will open it?
15Behold, if he withhold the waters, they dry up: If he let them go, they destroy the earth.
16With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver and him that is deceived.
17He carrieth away the wise men, as it were a spoil, and bringeth the judges out of their wits.
18He lowseth the girdle of kings, and girdleth their loins with a bond.
19He leadeth away the Priests in to captivity, and turneth the mighty up side down.
20He taketh the verity from out of the mouth, and disappointeth the aged of their wisdom.
21He poureth out confusion upon princes, and comforteth them that have been oppressed.
22Look what lieth hid in darkness, he declareth it openly: and the very shadow of death bringeth he to light.
23He both increaseth the people and destroyeth them: He maketh them to multiply, and driveth them away.
24He changeth the heart of the princes and kings of the earth, and disapointeth them: so that they go wandering out of the way,
25and grope in the dark without light, staggering to and fro like drunken men.