Job 12:7-16

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

⁷ “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
    the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
⁸ or the plants of the earth,^[a] 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 try words
    as the palate tastes food?
¹² Wisdom is with the aged,
    and understanding in length of days.

¹³ “With God^[b] are wisdom and might;
    he has counsel and understanding.
¹⁴ If he tears down, none can rebuild;
    if he shuts a man in, none can open.
¹⁵ If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
    if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
¹⁶ With him are strength and wisdom;
    the deceived and the deceiver are his.