THE BOOK OF
JOB

Job 12 ©

Job censures the presumption and unkindness of his friends, v. 1, etc. Shows that the wicked do prosper here for the most part, so far from being always punished, 6. Exhorts his friends to pay greater attention to their understanding and judgment, 11. Acknowledges the general doctrine of God’s wisdom, providence, power and justice, 13.

1

AND Job answered and said,

2

No doubt 1but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

3

But 2I have understanding as well as you; 3I am not inferior to you: yea, 4who knoweth not such things as these?

4

Ia am as one 5mocked of his neighbour, who 6calleth upon God, and he answereth him: theb just upright man is 7laughed to scorn.

5

He that is 8ready to slip 9with his feet is as 10a lamp despised in the thought of him that is 11at ease.

6

The tabernacles of robbers 12prosper,c and they that provoke God are 13secure; 14into whose hand God 15bringeth abundantly.

7

But 16ask now the beasts, and 17they 18shall 19teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

8

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9

Who knoweth not in 20all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought 21this?

10

In whose 22hand is the 23soul of every living thing, and the 24breath of all 25mankind.26

11

Dothd not the 27ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

12

28With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

13

With 29him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

14

Behold, he 30breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: hee31shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

15

Behold, 32he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he 33sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

16

With him is strength and 34wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are 35his.

17

Hef leadeth 36counsellers away 37spoiled, andg maketh the 38judges fools.

18

He looseth the 39bond of kings, and 40girdeth their loins with a girdle.

19

He leadeth 41princes away spoiled, and 42overthroweth the mighty.

20

Heh removeth away the 43speech of the 44trusty, and taketh away the 45understanding of the aged.

21

Hei poureth contempt upon 46princes, and 47weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

22

He discovereth 48deep things out of darkness, and bringethj out to light the 49shadow of death.

23

50Hek increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: 51he enlargeth the nations, and 52straiteneth them again.

24

He taketh away the 53heart 54of the chief of the people of the earth, and 55causeth them to wanderl in a wilderness 56where there is no way.

25

They grope in the 57dark without light, and he 58maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.