Job 12

Job's Reply

1 Job replied,

2 "You people think you know everything, don't you? You are sure that wisdom will die with you!

3 But I have a brain, just like you. I'm as clever as you are. In fact, everyone knows as much as you do.

4 "My friends laugh at me all the time, even though I called out to God and he answered. My friends laugh at me, even though I'm honest and right.

5 People who have an easy life look down on those who have problems. They think trouble comes only to those whose feet are slipping.

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!

7 "But ask the animals what God does. They will teach you. Or ask the birds of the air. They will tell you.

8 Or speak to the earth. It will teach you. Or let the fish of the ocean educate you.

9 Are there any of those creatures that don't know what the powerful hand of the LORD has done?

10 He holds the life of every creature in his hand. He controls the breath of every human being.

11 Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn't. And our ears tell us what's true and what isn't.

12 Old people are wise. Those who live a long time have understanding.

13 "Wisdom and power belong to God. Advice and understanding also belong to him.

14 What he tears down can't be rebuilt. Any man he puts in prison can't be set free.

15 If he holds back the water, everything dries up. If he lets the water loose, it floods the land.

16 Strength and success belong to him. Those who tell lies and those who believe them also belong to him.

17 He removes the wisdom of advisers and leads them away. He makes judges look foolish.

18 He sets people free from the chains that kings put on them. Then he dresses the kings in the clothes of slaves.

19 He removes the authority of priests and leads them away. He removes from their positions those who have been in control for a long time.

20 He shuts the mouths of trusted advisers. He takes away the understanding of elders.

21 He looks down on proud leaders. He takes away the strength of those who are mighty.

22 He tells people the secrets of darkness. He brings evil plans out into the light.

23 He makes nations great, and then he destroys them. He makes nations grow, and then he scatters them.

24 He takes away the understanding of the leaders of the earth. He makes them wander in a desert where no one lives.

25 Without any light, they feel their way along in darkness. God makes them unsteady like those who get drunk.

Job 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.