Job
12 And Job proceeded to answer and say:
4 [One who is] a laughingstock to his fellowman I* become,+
One calling to God* that he should answer him.+
A laughingstock is the righteous, unblamable one.
5 In thought, the carefree one has contempt for extinction itself;+
It is made ready for those of wobbling feet.+
7 However, ask, please, the domestic animals, and they will instruct you;+
Also the winged creatures of the heavens, and they will tell you.+
8 Or show your concern to the earth,* and it will instruct you;+
And the fishes of the sea+ will declare it to you.
9 Who among all these does not well know
That the hand of Jehovah* itself has done this,+
14 Look! He tears down, that there may be no building up;+
He makes it shut to man, that it may not be opened up.+
15 Look! He puts a restraint upon the waters and they dry up;+
And he sends them, and they change the earth.+
16 With him there are strength and practical wisdom;+
To him belong the one making a mistake and the one leading astray;+
17 He is making counselors go barefoot,*+
And he makes judges themselves go crazy.
19 He is making priests walk barefoot,+
And permanently seated ones he subverts;*+
20 He is removing speech* from the faithful ones,
And the sensibleness of old men he takes away;
21 He is pouring out contempt upon nobles,+
And the girdle of powerful ones he actually weakens;
22 He is uncovering deep things from the darkness,+
And he brings forth to the light deep shadow;
23 Making the nations grow great, that he may destroy them;+
Spreading out the nations, that he may lead them away;
24 Taking away the heart of the head ones of the people of the land,
That he may make them wander about in an empty place,+ where there is no way.