Job 12:7-20

7“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

8or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.

9Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

11Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?

12Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?

13“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.

14What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; those he imprisons cannot be released.

15If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.

16To him belong strength and insight; both deceived and deceiver are his.

17He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges.

18He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist.

19He leads priests away stripped and overthrows officials long established.

20He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders.