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[1] Then Job answered, and said,
[2] Indeed because that ye are the people only, wisdom must die with you.
[3] But I have understanding as well as you, and am not inferior unto you: yea, who knoweth not such things?
[4] I am as one mocked of his neighbor, who calleth upon God, and he heareth him: the just and the upright is laughed to scorn.
[5] He that is ready to fall, is as a lamp despised in the opinion of the rich.
[6] The tabernacles of robbers do prosper, and they are in safety, that provoke God, whom God hath enriched with his hand.
[7] Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the fouls of the heaven, and they shall tell thee:
[8] Or speak to the earth, and it shall show thee: or the fishes of the sea, and they shall declare unto thee.
[9] Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hand of the Lord hath made these?
[10] In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
[11] Doth not the ears discern the words? And the mouth taste meat for itself?
[12] Among the ancient is wisdom, and in the length of days is understanding.
[13] With him is wisdom and strength: he hath counsel and understanding.
[14] Behold, he will break down, and it cannot be built: he shutteth a man up, and he cannot be loosed.
[15] Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth.
[16] With him is strength and wisdom: he that is deceived, and that deceiveth, are his.
[17] He causeth the counselors to go as spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
[18] He looseth the collar of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
[19] He leadeth away the princes as a prey, and overthroweth the mighty.
[20] He taketh away the speech from the faithful counselors, and taketh away the judgment of the ancient.
[21] He poureth contempt upon princes, and maketh the strength of the mighty weak.
[22] He discovereth the deep places from their darkness, and bringeth forth the shadow of death to light.
[23] He increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in again.
[24] He taketh away the hearts of them that are the chief over the people of the earth, and maketh them to wander in the wilderness out of the way.
[25] They grope in the dark without light: and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
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