1 And Job answereth and saith: --

2 Truly--ye are the people, And with you doth wisdom die.

3 I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?

4 A laughter to his friend I am: `He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter is the perfect righteous one.

5 A torch--despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.

6 At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.

7 And yet, ask, I pray thee, One of the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.

8 Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:

9 `Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?

10 In whose hand is the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.'

11 Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

12 With the very aged is wisdom, And with length of days understanding.

13 With Him are wisdom and might, To him are counsel and understanding.

14 Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.

15 Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.

16 With Him are strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.

17 Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.

18 The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.

19 Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.

20 Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.

21 Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.

22 Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.

23 Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.

24 Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy--no way!

25 They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.