Job 12:8-18

8 Hablen a la tierra, y ella los instruirá;
dejen que los peces del mar les hablen.

9 Pues todos ellos saben
que mi desgracia
ha venido de la mano del Señor
,

10 ya que la vida de todo ser viviente está en sus manos,
así como el aliento de todo ser humano.

11 El oído pone a prueba las palabras que oye
igual que la boca distingue los sabores.

12 La sabiduría pertenece a los ancianos,
y el entendimiento a los mayores.

13 »Pero la verdadera sabiduría y el poder se encuentran en Dios;
el consejo y el entendimiento le pertenecen.

14 Lo que él destruye no se puede volver a construir.
Cuando él mete a alguien en la cárcel, no hay escapatoria.

15 Si él detiene la lluvia, la tierra se convierte en un desierto;
si libera las aguas, se inunda la tierra.

16 Así es, la fuerza y la sabiduría le pertenecen a él;
los que engañan y los engañados, los dos están bajo su poder.

17 Él se lleva a los consejeros y les quita el buen juicio;
los jueces sabios se vuelven necios.

18 Él despoja a los reyes del manto real
y son llevados lejos con cuerdas alrededor de la cintura.

Job 12:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

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.