Hiob 12

1 Da antwortete Hiob und sprach:

2 Ja, ihr seid die Leute, mit euch wird die Weisheit sterben!

3 Ich habe so wohl ein Herz als ihr und bin nicht geringer denn ihr; und wer ist, der solches nicht wisse?

4 Ich muß von meinem Nächsten verlacht sein, der ich Gott anrief, und er erhörte mich. Der Gerechte und Fromme muß verlacht sein

5 und ist ein verachtet Lichtlein vor den Gedanken der Stolzen, steht aber, daß sie sich daran ärgern.

6 Der Verstörer Hütten haben die Fülle, und Ruhe haben, die wider Gott toben, die ihren Gott in der Faust führen.

7 Frage doch das Vieh, das wird dich's lehren und die Vögel unter dem Himmel, die werden dir's sagen;

8 oder rede mit der Erde, die wird dich's lehren, und die Fische im Meer werden dir's erzählen.

9 Wer erkennte nicht an dem allem, daß des HERRN Hand solches gemacht hat?

10 daß in seiner Hand ist die Seele alles dessen, was da lebt, und der Geist des Fleisches aller Menschen?

11 Prüft nicht das Ohr die Rede? und der Mund schmeckt die Speise?

12 Ja, "bei den Großvätern ist die Weisheit, und der Verstand bei den Alten".

13 Bei ihm ist Weisheit und Gewalt, Rat und Verstand.

14 Siehe, wenn er zerbricht, so hilft kein Bauen; wenn er jemand einschließt, kann niemand aufmachen.

15 Siehe, wenn er das Wasser verschließt, so wird alles dürr; und wenn er's ausläßt, so kehrt es das Land um.

16 Er ist stark und führt es aus. Sein ist, der da irrt und der da verführt.

17 Er führt die Klugen wie einen Raub und macht die Richter toll.

18 Er löst auf der Könige Zwang und bindet mit einem Gurt ihre Lenden.

19 Er führt die Priester wie einen Raub und bringt zu Fall die Festen.

20 Er entzieht die Sprache den Bewährten und nimmt weg den Verstand der Alten.

21 Er schüttet Verachtung auf die Fürsten und macht den Gürtel der Gewaltigen los.

22 Er öffnet die finsteren Gründe und bringt heraus das Dunkel an das Licht.

23 Er macht etliche zu großem Volk und bringt sie wieder um. Er breitet ein Volk aus und treibt es wieder weg.

24 Er nimmt weg den Mut der Obersten des Volkes im Lande und macht sie irre auf einem Umwege, da kein Weg ist,

25 daß sie in Finsternis tappen ohne Licht; und macht sie irre wie die Trunkenen.

Hiob 12 Commentary

Chapter 12

Job reproves his friends. (1-5) The wicked often prosper.(6-11) Job speaks of the wisdom and power of God. (12-25)

Verses 1-5 Job upbraids his friends with the good opinion they had of their own wisdom compared with his. We are apt to call reproofs reproaches, and to think ourselves mocked when advised and admonished; this is our folly; yet here was colour for this charge. He suspected the true cause of their conduct to be, that they despised him who was fallen into poverty. It is the way of the world. Even the just, upright man, if he comes under a cloud, is looked upon with contempt.

Verses 6-11 Job appeals to facts. The most audacious robbers, oppressors, and impious wretches, often prosper. Yet this is not by fortune or chance; the Lord orders these things. Worldly prosperity is of small value in his sight: he has better things for his children. Job resolves all into the absolute proprietorship which God has in all the creatures. He demands from his friends liberty to judge of what they had said; he appeals to any fair judgment.

Verses 12-25 This is a noble discourse of Job concerning the wisdom, power, and sovereignty of God, in ordering all the affairs of the children of men, according to the counsel of His own will, which none can resist. It were well if wise and good men, who differ about lesser things, would see how it is for their honour and comfort, and the good of others, to dwell most upon the great things in which they agree. Here are no complaints, or reflections. He gives many instances of God's powerful management of the children of men, overruling all their counsels, and overcoming all their oppositions. Having all strength and wisdom, God knows how to make use, even of those who are foolish and bad; otherwise there is so little wisdom and so little honesty in the world, that all had been in confusion and ruin long ago. These important truths were suited to convince the disputants that they were out of their depth in attempting to assign the Lord's reasons for afflicting Job; his ways are unsearchable, and his judgments past finding out. Let us remark what beautiful illustrations there are in the word of God, confirming his sovereignty, and wisdom in that sovereignty: but the highest and infinitely the most important is, that the Lord Jesus was crucified by the malice of the Jews; and who but the Lord could have known that this one event was the salvation of the world?

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 12

In this and the two following chapter Job makes answer to Zophar's discourse in the former; who having represented him as an ignorant man, he resents it, and begins his defence with a biting sarcasm on him and his friends, as being self-conceited, and having an high opinion of their own wisdom, as if none had any but themselves, Job 12:1,2; and puts in his claim for a share with them, as being not at all inferior to them, Job 12:3; and then refutes their notions, that it always goes well with good men, and ill with bad men; whereas the reverse is the truth, Job 12:4-6; and which they might learn from the brute creatures; or he sends them to them, to observe to them, that the best things they had knowledge of concerning God and his providence, and of his wisdom therein, were common notions that everyone had, and might be learned from beasts, birds, and fishes; particularly, that all things in the whole universe are made by God, and sustained by him, and are under his direction, and at his disposal, Job 12:7-10; and such things might as easily be searched, examined, and judged of, as sounds are tried by the ear, and food by the mouth, Job 12:11; and seeing it is usual among men, at least it may be expected that men in years should have a considerable share of wisdom and knowledge, it might be strongly inferred from thence, without any difficulty, that the most perfect and consummate wisdom was in God, Job 12:12,13; whence he passes on to discourse most admirably and excellently of the wisdom and power of God in the dispensations of his providence, in a variety of instances; which shows his knowledge of his perfections, ways, and works, was not inferior to that of his friends, Job 12:14-25.