17 He leads counselors away plundered,
And makes fools of the judges.

18 He loosens the bonds of kings,
And binds their waist with a belt.

19 He leads¹ princes away plundered,
And overthrows the mighty. ‡

20 ^aHe deprives the trusted ones of speech,
And takes away the discernment of the elders. ‡

21 ^aHe pours contempt on princes,
And¹ disarms the mighty. ‡

22 He ^auncovers deep things out of darkness,
And brings the shadow of death to light. ‡

23 ^aHe¹ makes nations great, and destroys them;
He enlarges nations, and guides them. ‡

24 He takes away the¹ understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,
And ^amakes them wander in a pathless wilderness. ‡

25 ^aThey grope in the dark without light,
And He makes them ^bstagger like a drunken man. ‡