17. He leads [great and scheming] counselors away stripped and barefoot and makes the judges fools [in human estimation, by overthrowing their plans].
18. He looses the fetters [ordered] by kings and has [the] waistcloth [of a slave] bound about their [own] loins.
19. He leads away priests as spoil, and men firmly seated He overturns.
20. He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment and discretion of the aged.
21. He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong [disabling them, bringing low the pride of the learned].
22. He uncovers deep things out of darkness and brings into light black gloom and the shadow of death.
23. He makes nations great, and He destroys them; He enlarges nations [and then straitens and shrinks them again], and leads them [away captive].
24. He takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the land and of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.
25. They grope in the dark without light, and He makes them to stagger and wander like a drunken man.