7 I thought, ‘Age should speak;

advanced years should teach wisdom.’

8 But it is the spirit in a person,

the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

9 It is not only the old who are wise,

not only the aged who understand what is right.

7 I said, Days should speak,

And multitude of years should teach wisdom.

8 But there is a spirit in man:

And the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

9 Great men are not always wise:

Neither do the aged understand judgment.

7 I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak,

for wisdom comes with age.’

8 But there is a spirit within people,

the breath of the Almighty within them,

that makes them intelligent.

9 Sometimes the elders are not wise.

Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.

7 I said, ‘Age should speak,

And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’

8 But there is a spirit in man,

And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.

9 Great men are not always wise,

Nor do the aged always understand justice.

7 I thought, ‘Older people should speak,

and those who have lived many years should teach wisdom.’

8 But it is the spirit in a person,

the breath of the Almighty, that gives understanding.

9 It is not just older people who are wise;

they are not the only ones who understand what is right.

7 I said, Days should speak,

And multitude of years should teach wisdom.

8 But there is a spirit in man,

And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

9 It is not the great that are wise,

Nor the aged that understand justice.

7 I said, Let days speak, and multitude of years teach wisdom. 8 But there is a spirit which is in man; and the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 9 It is not the great that are wise; neither do the aged understand judgment.

7 I thought, ‘Age should speak, 

and experience should teach wisdom.’ 

8 However, there is in humans a Spirit, 

the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding. 

9 People do not become wise merely because they live long. 

They don’t understand what justice is merely because they’re old. 

7 I thought that age should speak

and maturity should teach wisdom.

8 But it is a spirit in man

and the breath of the Almighty

that give him understanding.

9 It is not only the old who are wise

or the elderly who understand how to judge.

7 I said, ‘Let days speak,

and many years teach wisdom.’

8 But truly it is the spirit in a mortal,

the breath of the Almighty, that makes for understanding.

9 It is not the old that are wise,

nor the aged that understand what is right.

7 I thought, ‘Let days speak,

and let many years teach wisdom.’

8 “Truly, it is a spirit in a human being,

and the breath of Shaddai teaches them.

9 It is not the aged who are wise,

or it is not the elders who understand justice.

7 I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak first.

Those who have lived for many years

should teach people how to be wise.’

8 But the spirit in people gives them understanding.

The breath of the Mighty One gives them wisdom.

9 Older people aren’t the only ones who are wise.

They aren’t the only ones who understand what is right.

7 “I thought age should speak,

And increased years should teach wisdom.

8 “But it is a spirit in man,

And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

9 “The abundant in years may not be wise,

Nor may elders understand justice.