¹ And Job answereth and saith: --

^{2 Ref} Truly -- ye `are' the people, And with you doth wisdom die.

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

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

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

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

^{7 Ref} 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 Ref} `Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?

^{10 Ref} In whose hand `is' the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.'

^{11 Ref} Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

^{12 Ref} With the very aged `is' wisdom, And `with' length of days understanding.

^{13 Ref} With Him `are' wisdom and might, To him `are' counsel and understanding.

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

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

^{16 Ref} With Him `are' strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.

^{17 Ref} Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.

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

^{19 Ref} Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.

^{20 Ref} Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.

^{21 Ref} Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.

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

^{23 Ref} Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.

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

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