With [God] is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again. He shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.

He leads counselors away stripped, and he makes judges fools.

With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.

Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.

He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.

He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.

He loosens the bond of kings, and he binds their loins with a belt.

He pours contempt upon rulers, and weakens the strength of the strong.

He removes the speech of the trustworthy, and takes away the understanding of the elders.

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

He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

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

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

He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.

Then Job answered and said,

I am as a man who is a laughing-stock to his neighbor. I who called upon God, and he answered. The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

Who does not know in all these, that the hand of LORD has wrought this,

Does not the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?

The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure. Into whose hand God brings [abundantly].

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who does not know such things as these?

In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for those whose foot slips.

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee.

in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?

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