Job 12:13–25

13 “With him are wisdom and powerful deeds,

and to him belong counsel and understanding.

14 If he tears down, theno it will not be rebuilt;

if he shuts a man in, thenp he cannot be freed.

15 Look, if he withholds the water,q thenr they dry up;

and if he sends them out, thens they overwhelm the land.

16 “Strength and sound wisdom are with him;

the deceived and the deceiver are his.t

17 He leads counselors away stripped,

and he makes fools of judges.

18 He loosens the fetters of kings,

and he binds a loincloth on their loins.

19 He leads priests away stripped,

and he overthrows ⌊the members of ancient families⌋.u

20 He deprives the trustworthy of speech,

and he takes away the discretion of elders.

21 He pours contempt on noblemen,

and he loosens the girdle of the mighty.

22 “He uncovers mysteries out of darkness,

and he brings deep shadow to the light.

23 He makes the nations great, thenv he destroys them;

he expands the nations, thenw he guides them.

24 He strips away the insight of the heads of the earth’s people,

and he makes them wander in ⌊a pathless wasteland⌋.x

25 They grope in the dark ⌊without⌋y light,

and he makes them stagger like az drunkard.