1 And Job H347 answered H6030 and said, H559
2 No doubt H551 but ye are the people, H5971 and wisdom H2451 shall die H4191 with you.
3 But H1571 I have understanding H3824 as well as you; I am not inferior H5307 to you: yea, who knoweth not such things H3644 as these?
4 I am as one mocked H7814 of his neighbour, H7453 who calleth H7121 upon God, H433 and he answereth H6030 him: the just H6662 upright H8549 man is laughed to scorn. H7814
5 He that is ready H3559 to slip H4571 with his feet H7272 is as a lamp H3940 despised H937 in the thought H6248 of him that is at ease. H7600
6 The tabernacles H168 of robbers H7703 prosper, H7951 and they that provoke H7264 God H410 are secure; H987 into whose hand H3027 God H433 bringeth H935 abundantly.
7 But H199 ask H7592 now the beasts, H929 and they shall teach H3384 thee; and the fowls H5775 of the air, H8064 and they shall tell H5046 thee:
8 Or speak H7878 to the earth, H776 and it shall teach H3384 thee: and the fishes H1709 of the sea H3220 shall declare H5608 unto thee.
9 Who knoweth H3045 not in all these that the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 hath wrought H6213 this?
10 In whose hand H3027 is the soul H5315 of every living thing, H2416 and the breath H7307 of all mankind. H376 H1320
11 Doth not the ear H241 try H974 words? H4405 and the mouth H2441 taste H2938 his meat? H400
12 With the ancient H3453 is wisdom; H2451 and in length H753 of days H3117 understanding. H8394
13 With him is wisdom H2451 and strength, H1369 he hath counsel H6098 and understanding. H8394
14 Behold, he breaketh down, H2040 and it cannot be built again: H1129 he shutteth up H5462 a man, H376 and there can be no opening. H6605
15 Behold, he withholdeth H6113 the waters, H4325 and they dry up: H3001 also he sendeth them out, H7971 and they overturn H2015 the earth. H776
16 With him is strength H5797 and wisdom: H8454 the deceived H7683 and the deceiver H7686 are his.
17 He leadeth H3212 counsellors H3289 away spoiled, H7758 and maketh the judges H8199 fools. H1984
18 He looseth H6605 the bond H4148 of kings, H4428 and girdeth H631 their loins H4975 with a girdle. H232
19 He leadeth H3212 princes H3548 away spoiled, H7758 and overthroweth H5557 the mighty. H386
20 He removeth away H5493 the speech H8193 of the trusty, H539 and taketh away H3947 the understanding H2940 of the aged. H2205
21 He poureth H8210 contempt H937 upon princes, H5081 and weakeneth H7503 the strength H4206 of the mighty. H650
22 He discovereth H1540 deep things H6013 out of darkness, H2822 and bringeth out H3318 to light H216 the shadow of death. H6757
23 He increaseth H7679 the nations, H1471 and destroyeth H6 them: he enlargeth H7849 the nations, H1471 and straiteneth H5148 them again.
24 He taketh away H5493 the heart H3820 of the chief H7218 of the people H5971 of the earth, H776 and causeth them to wander H8582 in a wilderness H8414 where there is no way. H1870
25 They grope H4959 in the dark H2822 without light, H216 and he maketh them to stagger H8582 like a drunken H7910 man.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 12
Commentary on Job 12 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 12
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 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,
Job 12:1-5
The reproofs Job here gives to his friends, whether they were just or no, were very sharp, and may serve for a rebuke to all that are proud and scornful, and an exposure of their folly.
Job 12:6-11
Job's friends all of them went upon this principle, that wicked people cannot prosper long in this world, but some remarkable judgment or other will suddenly light on them: Zophar had concluded with it, that the eyes of the wicked shall fail, ch. 11:20. This principle Job here opposes, and maintains that God, in disposing men's outward affairs, acts as a sovereign, reserving the exact distribution of rewards and punishments for the future state.
Job 12:12-25
This is a noble discourse of Job's concerning the wisdom, power, and sovereignty of God, in ordering and disposing of all the affairs of the children of men, according to the counsel of his own will, which none dares gainsay or can resist. Take both him and them out of the controversy in which they were so warmly engaged, and they all spoke admirably well; but, in that, we sometimes scarcely know what to make of them. It were well if wise and good men, that differ in their apprehensions about minor things, would see it to be for their honour and comfort, and the edification of others, to dwell most upon those great things in which they are agreed. On this subject Job speaks like himself. Here are no passionate complaints, no peevish reflections, but every thing masculine and great.
Thus are the revolutions of kingdoms wonderfully brought about by an overruling Providence. Heaven and earth are shaken, but the Lord sits King for ever, and with him we look for a kingdom that cannot be shaken.