Thomson(i)
1 To this Job replied,
2 You, forsooth, are men, and wisdom will die with you.
3 But I indeed have understanding as well as you.
4 For a just man and one irreprehensible hath been made a mocking stock.
5 For it hath been ordered that for a time he shall fall beneath others: and that his houses shall be wasted by transgressors.
6 Nevertheless let no wicked man indulge a confidence that he shall escape condemnation. Whoever provoke the Lord to anger shall not they also undergo a trial?
7 But ask, I pray thee, the beasts of the field, if they could speak to thee; and the birds of the air, if they could tell thee;
8 speak to the earth, if it could converse with thee; even the fishes of the sea can tell thee.
9 Who then among all these doth not know that the hand of the Lord hath done these things?
10 Is not the life of all living beings in his hand; and the breath of every man?
11 The ear indeed discerneth words and the palate tasteth meats.
12 By length of time wisdom is acquired, and by long life, experience.
13 With him is wisdom and power; with him counsel and understanding.
14 If he demolish who can rebuild? If he shut against men, who can open?
15 If he withhold water he drieth the earth. And when he let it loose, he overthrew and destroyed it,
16 With him is strength and power; with him knowledge and understanding.
17 He hath led counsellors away captive. And confounded the judges of the earth.
18 It is he who settleth kings on thrones and girded their loins with a girdle;
19 who sendeth priests into captivity and overthrew the sovereigns of the earth;
20 who changeth the lips of liege men and knoweth the wisdom of elders;
21 who poureth contempt on princes and hath healed them who were low;
22 who revealeth deep things from darkness; and hath brought to light the shades of death;
23 who leadeth nations into error and destroyeth them; who prostrateth nations and conducteth them;
24 who changeth the hearts of the rulers of a land and hath caused them to wander in a way which they knew not:
25 That they might grope in darkness without light; and that they might stagger like a drunken man.