[1] Then Job answered: [2] "You really think you are the only wise people. You think when you die wisdom will die with you. [3] But my mind is as good as yours. You are not better than I am. Everyone knows all these things. [4] My friends all laugh at me when I call on God and expect him to answer me. They laugh at me even though I am right and innocent! [5] People who are comfortable don't care that others have trouble. They think that people who are in trouble should have more troubles. [6] The tents of robbers are not bothered. Those who make God angry are safe. They have their god in their pocket. [7] "But ask the animals, and they will teach you. Or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. [8] Speak to the earth, and it will teach you. Or let the fish of the sea tell you. [9] Every one of these knows that the hand of the Lord has done this. [10] The life of every creature and the breath of all people are in God's hand. [11] The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. [12] Older people are supposed to be wise. Long life is supposed to bring understanding. [13] "But God has wisdom and power. He has good advice and understanding. [14] What God tears down cannot be rebuilt. The man God puts in prison cannot be let out. [15] If God holds back the waters, there is a time without rain. But if he lets the waters go, they flood the land. [16] God is strong and victorious. Both the person who fools others and the one who is fooled belong to him. [17] God leads wise men away as captives. He turns wise judges into fools. [18] God takes the royal belt off of kings. And he dresses them like prisoners with only a cloth around their waist. [19] He leads priests away as captives. He destroys the power of those who have been powerful. [20] God makes trusted people be silent. And he takes away the wisdom of elders. [21] God brings disgrace on important people. And he takes away the weapons of the strong. [22] God uncovers the deep things of darkness. He brings dark shadows into the light. [23] He makes nations great, and he destroys them. He makes nations large, and he scatters them. [24] He takes understanding away from the leaders of the earth. He makes them wander through a desert with no paths. [25] They feel around in darkness with no light. God makes them stumble around like drunken people.
