12:1   Yes, you are the voice of the people. When you die, wisdom will die with you.

12:2   (SEE 12:1)

12:3   But I have as much sense as you have; I am in no way inferior to you; everyone knows all that you have said.

12:4   Even my friends laugh at me now; they laugh, although I am righteous and blameless; but there was a time when God answered my prayers.

12:5   You have no troubles, and yet you make fun of me; you hit someone who is about to fall.

12:6   But thieves and godless people live in peace, though their only god is their own strength.

12:7   Even birds and animals have much they could teach you;

12:8   ask the creatures of earth and sea for their wisdom.

12:9   All of them know that the LORD's hand made them.

12:10   It is God who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone's life is in his power.

12:11   But just as your tongue enjoys tasting food, your ears enjoy hearing words.

12:12   Old people have wisdom, but God has wisdom and power. Old people have insight; God has insight and power to act.

12:13   (SEE 12:12)

12:14   When God tears down, who can rebuild, and who can free those God imprisons?

12:15   Drought comes when God withholds rain; floods come when he turns water loose.

12:16   God is strong and always victorious; both deceived and deceiver are in his power.

12:17   He takes away the wisdom of rulers and makes leaders act like fools.

12:18   He dethrones kings and makes them prisoners;

12:19   he humbles priests and men of power.

12:20   He silences those who are trusted, and takes the wisdom of old people away.

12:21   He disgraces those in power and puts an end to the strength of rulers.

12:22   He sends light to places dark as death.

12:23   He makes nations strong and great, but then he defeats and destroys them.

12:24   He makes their leaders foolish and lets them wander confused and lost;

12:25   they grope in the dark and stagger like drunkards.