7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

or let the fish in the sea inform you.

9 Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10 In his hand is the life of every creature

and the breath of all mankind.

11 Does not the ear test words

as the tongue tastes food?

12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?

Does not long life bring understanding?

13 “To God belong wisdom and power;

counsel and understanding are his.

7 “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;

the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;

8 or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;

and the fish of the sea will declare to you.

9 Who among all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10 In his hand is the life of every living thing

and the breath of all mankind.

11 Does not the ear test words

as the palate tastes food?

12 Wisdom is with the aged,

and understanding in length of days.

13 “With God are wisdom and might;

he has counsel and understanding.

7 “Just ask the animals, and they will teach you.

Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.

8 Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you.

Let the fish in the sea speak to you.

9 For they all know

that my disaster has come from the hand of the Lord.

10 For the life of every living thing is in his hand,

and the breath of every human being.

11 The ear tests the words it hears

just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.

12 Wisdom belongs to the aged,

and understanding to the old.

13 “But true wisdom and power are found in God;

counsel and understanding are his.

7 “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;

And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;

And the fish of the sea will explain to you.

9 Who among all these does not know

That the hand of the Lord has done this,

10 In whose hand is the life of every living thing,

And the breath of all mankind?

11 Does not the ear test words

And the mouth taste its food?

12 Wisdom is with aged men,

And with length of days, understanding.

13 “With Him are wisdom and strength,

He has counsel and understanding.

7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.

8 Speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

or let the fish of the sea tell you.

9 Every one of these knows

that the hand of the Lord has done this.

10 The life of every creature

and the breath of all people are in God’s hand.

11 The ear tests words

as the tongue tastes food.

12 Older people are wise,

and long life brings understanding.

13 “But only God has wisdom and power,

good advice and understanding.

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee;

And the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee:

8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee;

And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9 Who knoweth not in all these,

That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this,

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing,

And the breath of all mankind?

11 Doth not the ear try words,

Even as the palate tasteth its food?

12 With aged men is wisdom,

And in length of days understanding.

13 With God is wisdom and might;

He hath counsel and understanding.

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowl of the heavens, and they shall tell thee; 8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 9 Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this? 10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man. 11 Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food?

12 With the aged is wisdom, and in length of days understanding. 13 With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.

7 “Instead, ask the animals, and they will teach you. 

Ask the birds, and they will tell you. 

8 Or speak with the earth, and it will teach you. 

Even the fish will relate ⸤the story⸥ to you. 

9 What creature doesn’t know that the Lord’s hands made it? 

10 The life of every living creature 

and the spirit in every human body are in his hands. 

11 Doesn’t the ear distinguish sounds 

and the tongue taste food? 

12 “Wisdom is with the ancient one. 

The one who has had many days has insight.

13 God has wisdom and strength. 

Advice and insight are his. 

7 But ask the animals, and they will instruct you;

ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.

8 Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you;

let the fish of the sea inform you.

9 Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10 The life of every living thing is in His hand,

as well as the breath of all mankind.

11 Doesn’t the ear test words

as the palate tastes food?

12 Wisdom is found with the elderly,

and understanding comes with long life.

13 Wisdom and strength belong to God;

counsel and understanding are His.

7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you;

the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

8 ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you;

and the fish of the sea will declare to you.

9 Who among all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10 In his hand is the life of every living thing

and the breath of every human being.

11 Does not the ear test words

as the palate tastes food?

12 Is wisdom with the aged,

and understanding in length of days?

13 With God are wisdom and strength;

he has counsel and understanding.

7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

and the birds of the heaven, and they will tell you;

8 or ask the earth, and it will teach you,

and the fishes of the sea will declare to you.

9 Who among all of these does not know

that Yahweh’s hand has done this?

10 In whose hand is the life of all living things

and the breath of every human being?

11 Does not the ear test words

and the palate taste food for itself?

12 Wisdom is with the aged,

and understanding is in length of days.

13 “With him are wisdom and powerful deeds,

and to him belong counsel and understanding.

7 “But ask the animals what God does.

They will teach you.

Or ask the birds of the air.

They will tell you.

8 Or speak to the earth. It will teach you.

Or let the fish of the ocean educate you.

9 Are there any of those creatures that don’t know

what the powerful hand of the Lord has done?

10 He holds the life of every creature in his hand.

He controls the breath of every human being.

11 Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn’t.

And our ears tell us what’s true and what isn’t.

12 Old people are wise.

Those who live a long time have understanding.

13 “Wisdom and power belong to God.

Advice and understanding also belong to him.

7 “But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;

And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.

8 “Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you;

And let the fish of the sea declare to you.

9 “Who among all these does not know

That the hand of the Lord has done this,

10 In whose hand is the life of every living thing,

And the breath of all mankind?

11 “Does not the ear test words,

As the palate tastes its food?

12 “Wisdom is with aged men,

With long life is understanding.

13 “With Him are wisdom and might;

To Him belong counsel and understanding.