9
Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this,
10
In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?
11
Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food?
12
Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding.
13
"With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.
14
If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt; If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.
15
If He withholds the waters, they dry up; If He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.
16
With Him are strength and prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
17
He leads counselors away plundered, And makes fools of the judges.
18
He loosens the bonds of kings, And binds their waist with a belt.
19
He leads princes away plundered, And overthrows the mighty.
20
He deprives the trusted ones of speech, And takes away the discernment of the elders.
21
He pours contempt on princes, And disarms the mighty.
22
He uncovers deep things out of darkness, And brings the shadow of death to light.
23
He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them.
24
He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.
25
They grope in the dark without light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.