Job Presents His Case

1And Job answered and said,

2So then ye alone are men, and wisdom shall die with you?

3But I also have a heart as well as you.

4For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.

5For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be held guiltless,

6even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition made of them.

7But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to thee; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to thee.

8Tell the earth, if it may speak to thee: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to thee.

9Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?

10Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.

11For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.

12In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.

13With him are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.

14If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?

15If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.

16With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.

17He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.

18He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.

19He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.

20He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.

21He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.

22Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.

23Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them away.

24Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, saying,

25Let them grope in darkness, and let there be no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.