Job 12

King James Version

Full text for Job Chapter 12

1¶ And Job answered and said,

2No doubt but ye [are] the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

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

4I am [as] one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright [man is] laughed to scorn.

5He that is ready to slip with [his] feet [is as] a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

6¶ The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].

7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

10In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

11Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

12¶ With the ancient [is] wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

13With him [is] wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

14Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

16With him [is] strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver [are] his.

17He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

18He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.

19He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

20He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

21He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

22He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

23He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them [again].

24He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness [where there is] no way.

25They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like [a] drunken [man].

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Job responds to his friends' accusations, asserting his own understanding and lamenting his mocked state despite his righteousness. He observes the paradox of the wicked prospering while the just suffer, but then affirms God's absolute and unchallengeable sovereignty over all creation. Job declares that God controls all life, nature, and human affairs, including the wisdom of the aged and the power of rulers.

Medium Summary

Job begins by sarcastically dismissing his friends' claims of exclusive wisdom, stating he possesses understanding equal to theirs and that their pronouncements are common knowledge. He laments his personal suffering, feeling mocked as a righteous man while observing that robbers and those who provoke God often prosper securely. Job then argues that all of creation—beasts, fowls, earth, and fish—testifies to God's universal power, for He holds the breath of all living things. He emphasizes that true wisdom and strength belong solely to God, who can build up or tear down, control the waters, and humble the wise, the mighty, and rulers, revealing hidden things and guiding nations.

Long Summary

Job opens by rebuking his friends' presumption of superior wisdom, asserting that he, too, possesses understanding and that their pronouncements are common knowledge. He expresses his personal anguish, feeling mocked by his neighbor despite calling upon God, and observes the paradox where the just are scorned while the wicked and robbers often prosper and live securely. Job then shifts to a theological argument, contending that even the natural world—beasts, fowls, earth, and fish—demonstrates God's creative and sustaining power, for He holds the soul and breath of all living things. He posits that true wisdom and strength reside solely with God, who possesses counsel and understanding. Job elaborates on God's absolute sovereignty, describing His ability to break down what cannot be rebuilt, to shut up a man without opening, and to control the waters, causing droughts or floods. He affirms that both the deceived and the deceiver are subject to God's will. Furthermore, God is depicted as one who leads away counsellors and princes, makes judges foolish, removes the speech of the trusty, and takes away the understanding of the aged. He pours contempt upon princes, weakens the mighty, discovers deep things from darkness, and brings the shadow of death to light. God increases and destroys nations, enlarges and straitens them, and causes the chief of the people to wander aimlessly, groping in darkness like drunken men, thereby demonstrating His unchallenged dominion over all human affairs and natural phenomena.

Core Concepts

  • Job's Asserted WisdomJob challenges his friends' perceived superiority, stating that he has understanding equal to theirs and that their wisdom is not unique or profound.
  • Prosperity of the WickedJob observes the perplexing reality that those who are wicked, including robbers and those who provoke God, often appear to prosper and live securely, while the righteous suffer scorn.
  • God's Universal SovereigntyThe chapter emphasizes God's absolute power over all creation, from holding the breath of every living thing to controlling the destinies of nations and individuals.
  • Divine Control over NatureGod is depicted as having complete command over natural elements, such as water, which He can withhold to cause drought or send forth to overturn the earth.
  • Humbling of the MightyGod demonstrates His power by stripping wisdom from counsellors, making judges foolish, and removing the authority and understanding of kings and princes, showing His dominion over human power structures.
  • Revelation of Hidden ThingsGod is described as one who discovers deep things out of darkness and brings to light even the shadow of death, indicating His comprehensive knowledge and ability to reveal what is concealed.
  • God's Governance of NationsGod is shown to increase and destroy nations, enlarge and straiten them, and cause their leaders to wander aimlessly, illustrating His ultimate control over human history and geopolitics.