[1] Then Job answered: [2] "You really think you are the only wise people and that 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] Those who are comfortable don't care that others have trouble; they think it right that those people should have troubles. [6] The tents of robbers are not bothered, and 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 wise, and long life brings understanding. [13] "But only God has wisdom and power, good advice and understanding. [14] What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; anyone he puts in prison cannot be let out. [15] If God holds back the waters, there is no rain; if he lets the waters go, they flood the land. [16] He is strong and victorious; both the one who fools others and the one who is fooled belong to him. [17] God leads the wise away as captives and turns judges into fools. [18] He takes off chains that kings put on and puts a garment on their bodies. [19] He leads priests away naked and destroys the powerful. [20] He makes trusted people be silent and takes away the wisdom of elders. [21] He brings disgrace on important people and takes away the weapons of the strong. [22] He uncovers the deep things of darkness and brings dark shadows into the light. [23] He makes nations great and then destroys them; he makes nations large and then scatters them. [24] He takes understanding away from the leaders of the earth and makes them wander through a pathless desert. [25] They feel around in darkness with no light; he makes them stumble like drunks.
