Job 11:12-20

12 "1An idiot * will become intelligent When the foal of a 2wild donkey is born a man.
13 "3If you would 4direct your heart right And 5spread out your hand to Him,
14 If iniquity is in your hand, 6put it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 "Then, indeed, you could 7lift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and 8not fear.
16 "For you would 9forget your trouble, As 10waters that have passed by, you would remember it.
17 "Your life would be 11brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning.
18 "Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely.
19 "You would 12lie down and none would disturb you, And many would 13entreat your favor.
20 "But the 14eyes of the wicked will fail, And there will 15be no escape for them; And their 16hope is 17to breathe their last."

Job 11:12-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 11

In this chapter Zophar the Naamathite, Job's third friend, attacks him, and the with great acrimony and severity, and with much indecency; he charges him not only with loquacity, and vain babbling, but with lying, and with scoffing at God, and good men, Job 11:1-3; which he attempts to support by some things Job had said, misrepresented by him, Job 11:4; and wishes that God would take him in hand, and convince him of the wisdom of the divine proceedings with him, and of his lenity and mercy to him, Job 11:5,6; and then discourses of the unsearchableness of God in his counsels, and conduct; of his sovereignty, and of his power, and of the vanity and folly of men, Job 11:7-19; and as his friends before him, having insinuated that Job was guilty of some heinous sin, or sins, and especially of hypocrisy, advises him to repentance and reformation, and then it would be well with him; and he should enjoy much comfort, peace, and safety, even to old age, Job 11:13-19; and concludes it should go ill with the wicked man and the hypocrite, such as he suggests Job was, Job 11:20.

Cross References 17

  • 1. Psalms 39:5, 11; Psalms 62:9; Psalms 144:4; Ecclesiastes 1:2; Ecclesiastes 11:10
  • 2. Job 39:5
  • 3. Job 5:17-27; Job 11:13-20
  • 4. 1 Samuel 7:3; Psalms 78:8
  • 5. Job 22:27; Psalms 88:9; Psalms 143:6
  • 6. Job 22:23
  • 7. Job 22:26
  • 8. Psalms 27:3; Psalms 46:2
  • 9. Isaiah 65:16
  • 10. Job 22:11
  • 11. Job 22:26
  • 12. Leviticus 26:6; Isaiah 17:2; Micah 4:4; Zephaniah 3:13
  • 13. Isaiah 45:14
  • 14. Deuteronomy 28:65; Job 17:5
  • 15. Job 27:22; Job 34:22
  • 16. Job 8:13
  • 17. Job 6:9

Footnotes 7

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