Job 12:6

6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure— those God has in his hand.[a]

Job 12:6 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
English Standard Version (ESV)
6 The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.
New Living Translation (NLT)
6 But robbers are left in peace, and those who provoke God live in safety— though God keeps them in his power.
The Message Bible (MSG)
6 Crooks reside safely in high-security houses, insolent blasphemers live in luxury; they've bought and paid for a god who'll protect them.
American Standard Version (ASV)
6 The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
6 [But] robbers' tents are prosperous, and there is security for those who provoke God, for those whose god is their power.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
6 The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure; God's power provides this.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
6 Why doesn't anyone bother the tents of robbers? Why do those who make God angry remain secure? They carry the statues of their gods in their hands!

Job 12:6 Meaning and Commentary

Job 12:6

The tabernacles of robbers prosper
Such as the Chaldeans and Sabeans, who had robbed Job of his substance, and filled their houses with the spoils of others, and lived in the greatest fulness and prosperity, and whom he might have in his view; and the like is what has been since observed by good men, and has been a trial and temptation to them, not knowing well how to reconcile this to the justice and wisdom of God in providence, yet so it is, a fact that cannot be denied, see ( Psalms 73:2 Psalms 73:3 Psalms 73:12 ) ( Jeremiah 12:1 Jeremiah 12:2 ) ;

and they that provoke God are secure;
all sin is abominable to God, contrary to his nature, will, and law, and so provoking; yet there are some sins that are more provoking than others, as idolatry, blasphemy, murder, theft, robbery, rapine, and oppression, and the like, as well as attended with more aggravating circumstances; and yet many who are guilty of such enormous crimes, and God provoking iniquities, are "secure", live in the greatest tranquillity and safety, free from the incursions, invasions, and insults of others: "their houses", as Job elsewhere says, "are safe from fear", ( Job 21:9 ) ;

into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly];
an abundance of the good things of this world, who have as much or more than heart can wish; whose belly is filled with hid treasure, whose grounds and fields bring forth plentifully, that they have no room to bestow their fruits; this, as it is an aggravation of their sin in provoking the God of their mercies, who is so liberal and bountiful to them, so it is the more full and express for the point in hand Job is confuting. Some, as Aben Ezra and Ben Gersom, understand this of idol makers and idol worshippers, and render the words, "who makes a god with his hand", or "carries a god in his hand" F12, and worships it; which others interpret of his doing what he will with God, having him, as it were, in his hand, or reckoning his hands his god, and thinks to do what he pleases F13.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (wdyb hwla aybh) "quique deum portant [vel] portat in manu sua", Tigurine version, Munster; so Bolducius, De Dieu, Schultens.
F13 Schmidt

Job 12:6 In-Context

4 “I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God and he answered— a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!
5 Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure— those God has in his hand.
7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Job 5:24; Job 22:18
  • 2. S Job 9:24; Job 21:9

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "those whose god is in their own hand"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.