1 Then Job answered,

2 “No doubt, but you are the people,

3 But I have understanding as well as you;

4 I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor,

5 In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune.

6 The tents of robbers prosper.

7 “But ask the animals now, and they will teach you;

8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you.

9 Who doesn’t know that in all these,

10 in whose hand is the life of every living thing,

11 Doesn’t the ear try words,

12 With aged men is wisdom,

13 “With God is wisdom and might.

14 Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again.

15 Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up.

16 With him is strength and wisdom.

17 He leads counselors away stripped.

18 He loosens the bond of kings.

19 He leads priests away stripped,

20 He removes the speech of those who are trusted,

21 He pours contempt on princes,

22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness,

23 He increases the nations, and he destroys them.

24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth,

25 They grope in the dark without light.