Job 12:9-25

Every one of these knows that the hand of the LORD has done this. The life of every creature and the breath of all people are in God’s hand. The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. Older people are wise, and long life brings understanding. “But only God has wisdom and power, good advice and understanding. What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; anyone he puts in prison cannot be let out. If God holds back the waters, there is no rain; if he lets the waters go, they flood the land. He is strong and victorious; both the one who fools others and the one who is fooled belong to him. God leads the wise away as captives and turns judges into fools. He takes off chains that kings put on and puts a garment on their bodies. He leads priests away naked and destroys the powerful. He makes trusted people be silent and takes away the wisdom of elders. He brings disgrace on important people and takes away the weapons of the strong. He uncovers the deep things of darkness and brings dark shadows into the light. He makes nations great and then destroys them; he makes nations large and then scatters them. He takes understanding away from the leaders of the earth and makes them wander through a pathless desert. They feel around in darkness with no light; he makes them stumble like drunks.