¹Then Job answered: ²“Truly then you are the people ³But I also have a mind; ⁴I am a laughingstock to my friends, ⁵The one at ease scorns misfortune ⁶The tents of robbers are safe, ⁷But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ⁸Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; ⁹Which of all these does not know ¹⁰The life of every living thing is in His hand, ¹¹Does not the ear test words ¹²Wisdom is found with the elderly, ¹³Wisdom and strength belong to God; ¹⁴What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; ¹⁵If He holds back the waters, they dry up, ¹⁶True wisdom and power belong to Him. ¹⁷He leads counselors away barefoot ¹⁸He loosens the bonds placed by kings ¹⁹He leads priests away barefoot ²⁰He deprives the trusted of speech ²¹He pours out contempt on nobles ²²He reveals the deep things of darkness ²³He makes nations great and destroys them; ²⁴He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason ²⁵They grope in the darkness without light;