Job 12
Job 12 is part of “First Cycle of Dialogue” (4–14) in the outline of Job.
Job 12 summary
In this and the two following chapters we have Job's answer to Zophar's discourse, in which, as before, he first reasons with his friends (see Job 13:19) and then turns to his God, and directs his expostulations to him, from thence to the end of his discourse. In this chapter he addresses himself to his friends, and, I. He condemns what they had said of him, and the judgment they had given of his character (Job 12:1-5). II.
Read the full introduction
In this and the two following chapters we have Job's answer to Zophar's discourse, in which, as before, he first reasons with his friends (see Job 13:19) and then turns to his God, and directs his expostulations to him, from thence to the end of his discourse. In this chapter he addresses himself to his friends, and, I. He condemns what they had said of him, and the judgment they had given of his character (Job 12:1-5). II. He contradicts and confronts what they had said of the destruction of wicked people in this world, showing that they often prosper (Job 12:6-11). III. He consents to what they had said of the wisdom, power, and sovereignty of God, and the dominion of his providence over the children of men and all their affairs; he confirms this, and enlarges upon it (Job 12:12-25).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Job 12 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Job's Reply: I Am Not Inferior to You
1Then Iob answered, and sayde, 2In deede because that ye are the people onely, wisedome must dye with you. 3But I haue vnderstanding aswel as you, and am not inferior vnto you: yea, who knoweth not such things? 4I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth vpon God, and he heareth him: the iust and the vpright is laughed to scorne. 5Hee that is readie to fall, is as a lampe despised in the opinion of the riche. 6The tabernacles of robbers doe prosper, and they are in safetie, that prouoke God, whome God hath enriched with his hand. 7Aske now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the foules of the heauen, and they shall tell thee: 8Or speake to the earth, and it shall shewe thee: or the fishes of the sea, and they shall declare vnto thee. 9Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hande of the Lord hath made these? 10In whose hande is the soule of euery liuing thing, and the breath of all mankinde. 11Doeth not the eares discerne the words? and the mouth taste meate for it selfe? 12Among the ancient is wisedome, and in the length of dayes is vnderstanding.
Wisdom Belongs to God Alone
13With him is wisedome and strength: he hath counsell and vnderstanding. 14Beholde, he will breake downe, and it can not be built: he shutteth a man vp, and he can not be loosed. 15Beholde, he withholdeth the waters, and they drie vp: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth. 16With him is strength and wisedome: hee that is deceiued, and that deceiueth, are his. 17He causeth the counsellers to goe as spoyled, and maketh the iudges fooles. 18He looseth the collar of Kings, and girdeth their loynes with a girdle. 19He leadeth away the princes as a pray, and ouerthroweth the mightie. 20He taketh away the speach from the faithfull counsellers, and taketh away the iudgement of the ancient. 21He powreth contempt vpon princes, and maketh the strength of the mightie weake. 22He discouereth the deepe places from their darkenesse, and bringeth foorth the shadowe of death to light. 23He increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he inlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in againe. 24He taketh away the heartes of the that are the chiefe ouer the people of the earth, and maketh them to wander in the wildernes out of the way. 25They grope in the darke without light: and he maketh the to stagger like a drunken man.