012:016 With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his. 012:017 He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools. 012:018 He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt. 012:019 He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty. 012:020 He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders. 012:021 He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong. 012:022 He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death. 012:023 He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive. 012:024 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. 012:025 They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man. 013:001 "Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it. 013:002 What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you. 013:003 "Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God. 013:004 But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value. 013:005 Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise. 013:006 Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips. 013:007 Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him? 013:008 Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God? 013:009 Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him? 013:010 He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality. 013:011 Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you? 013:012 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay. 013:013 "Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will. 013:014 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand? 013:015 Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him. 013:016 This also shall be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him. 013:017 Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears. 013:018 See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous. 013:019 Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit. 013:020 "Only don't do two things to me; then I will not hide myself from your face: 013:021 withdraw your hand far from me; and don't let your terror make me afraid. 013:022 Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you answer me. 013:023 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin. 013:024 Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?