9. Which of all these does not knowthat the hand of God has done this?
10. In his hand is the soul of every living thing,and the life breath of all mortal flesh.
11. Does not the ear judge wordsas the mouth tastes food?
12. So with old age is wisdom,and with length of days understanding.
13. With him are wisdom and might;his are counsel and understanding.
14. If he knocks a thing down, there is no rebuilding;if he imprisons, there is no release.
15. He holds back the waters and there is drought;he sends them forth and they overwhelm the land.
16. With him are strength and prudence;the misled and the misleaders are his.
17. He sends counselors away barefoot,makes fools of judges.
18. He loosens the belt of kings,ties a waistcloth on their loins.
19. He sends priests away barefoot,leads the powerful astray.
20. He silences the trusted adviser,takes discretion from the elders.
21. He pours shame on nobles,the waistband of the strong he loosens.
22. He uncovers deep things from the darkness,brings the gloom into the light.
23. He makes nations great and destroys them,spreads peoples abroad and abandons them.
24. He takes understanding from the leaders of the land,makes them wander in a pathless desert.
25. They grope in the darkness without light;he makes them wander like drunkards.