1 ¶ And Job answered and said,
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2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
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3 But I have understanding1 as well as you; I am2 not inferior to you: yea, who3 knoweth not such things as these?
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4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
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5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
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6 ¶ The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
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7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
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8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
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9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
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10 In whose hand is the soul4 of every living thing, and the breath of all5 mankind.
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11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth6 taste his meat?
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12 ¶ With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
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13 With7 him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
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14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up8 a man, and there can be no opening.
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15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
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16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
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17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
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18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
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19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
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20 He removeth away the speech9 of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
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21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth10 the strength of the mighty.
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22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
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23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth11 them again.
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24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
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25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger12 like a drunken man.
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