^{9 Ref} Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?

^{10 Ref} In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.

^{11 Ref} Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?

^{12 Ref} Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.

^{13 Ref} With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.

^{14 Ref} Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him; when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.

^{15 Ref} Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.

^{16 Ref} With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;

^{17 Ref} He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;

^{18 Ref} He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;

^{19 Ref} He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;

^{20 Ref} He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;

^{21 Ref} He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;

^{22 Ref} Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;

^{23 Ref} Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.

^{24 Ref} He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.

^{25 Ref} They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.