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.
5. You have no troubles, and yet you make fun of me;you hit someone who is about to fall.
6. But thieves and godless people live in peace,though their only god is their own strength.
7. Even birds and animals have much they could teach you;
8. ask the creatures of earth and sea for their wisdom.
9. All of them know that the Lord's hand made them.
10. It is God who directs the lives of his creatures;everyone's life is in his power.
11. But just as your tongue enjoys tasting food,your ears enjoy hearing words.
12-13. Old people have wisdom,but God has wisdom and power.Old people have insight;God has insight and power to act.
14. When God tears down, who can rebuild,and who can free those God imprisons?
15. Drought comes when God withholds rain;floods come when he turns water loose.
16. God is strong and always victorious;both deceived and deceiver are in his power.
17. He takes away the wisdom of rulersand makes leaders act like fools.