For there is no wisdom with the aged,[216]

Nor understanding in length of days; With him is wisdom and strength; He hath counsel and understanding.

CIII

Behold he breaketh down and it cannot be builded anew: He shutteth up a man, and who can open to him?

Lo, he withholdeth the waters and they dry up, He letteth them loose and they overwhelm the earth.

CIV

With him is strength and wisdom, The erring one and his error are his, Who leadeth away counsellors barefoot, And rendereth the judges fools.

CV

He bringeth back kings into their mausoleums, And overthroweth the n.o.bles; He withdraweth the speech of the trusty, And taketh away the understanding of the aged.

CVI

He poureth scorn upon princes, And looseth the girdle of the strong; He discovereth deep things out of darkness, And bringeth gloom unto light.

CVII

He stealeth the heart of the chiefs of the earth, And maketh them wander in a pathless wilderness So that they grope in the dark without light, And stagger to and fro like a drunken man.

CVIII

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, Mine ear hath heard and understood it.

What ye know, the same do I know also; I am nowise inferior to you.

CIX

But now I would speak to the Almighty, And I long to argue with G.o.d; For ye are weavers of lies, Ye all are patchers of inanities.

CX

Oh that ye would all of you hold your peace, And that should stand you in wisdom's stead!

Hear, I beseech you, the reasoning of my mouth, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips!

CXI

Will ye discourse wickedly for G.o.d?

And utter lies on his behalf?[217]

Will ye accept his person by dint of trickery?

Will ye contend for G.o.d with deception?

CXII

Were it well for you should he search you out?

Can ye dupe him as ye dupe men?

Will he not surely rebuke you, If ye secretly[218] accept his person?

CXIII

Shall not his majesty, then, make you afraid?

And his dread seize hold of you?

Will not your adages become as ashes, Your arguments even as bulwarks of clay?

CXIV

Hold your peace that I may speak, And let come upon me what will!

I shall take my life in my teeth, And put my soul in mine hand.

CXV

Lo, let him kill me, I cherish hope no more, Only I will justify my way before his face.

This too will aid my triumph, That no wicked one dares appear in his sight.

CXVI

Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

Who is he that will plead with me?

Only do not two things unto me!

CXVII

Withdraw thine hand from me, And let not dread of thee make me afraid.

Then call thou and I will answer, Or let me speak and answer thou unto me.

CXVIII

How many are mine iniquities?

Make me to know my misdeeds.

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And holdest me for thine enemy?

CXIX

Wilt thou scare a leaf driven to and fro?

And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

That thou writest down bitter things against me, And imputest to me the errors of my youth.

CXX

Thou observest all my paths, And puttest my feet into the stocks, Thy chain weigheth heavy upon me, And cutteth into my feet.[219]

CXXI

Man that is born of a woman, Poor in days and rich in trouble; He cometh forth like a flower and fadeth, He fleeth as a shadow and abideth not.

CXXII