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Summary

Job 12:1–6 – Job answers with irony

What happens: Job replies that his friends are the people and wisdom will die with them. He says he also has understanding. He notes that those at ease despise the unfortunate, while robbers prosper and provoke God safely.

What it means: Pain sharpens awareness of shallow counsel. Prosperity can blind people to injustice. God hears the wounded and warns the comfortable.

Job 12:7–12 – Creation testifies to God’s hand

What happens: Job points to beasts, birds, fish, and the earth to show that God’s hand does all this. He says the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. He honors the wisdom of the aged.

What it means: The world reveals God’s active rule. Discernment weighs words, not titles. Wisdom grows with experience, yet it must answer to truth.

Job 12:13–25 – God overturns human power

What happens: Job declares that wisdom and strength belong to God. He tears down, imprisons, and withholds water or sends it out. He frustrates counselors, judges, kings, priests, and nobles. He makes nations great and then destroys them. He brings leaders into darkness and makes them wander without light.

What it means: God is sovereign over rulers and nations. Human systems are not ultimate. Faith trusts God when authority fails and history shifts.

Application

  • Test counsel carefully, especially when you are in pain.
  • Look at creation and remember God’s steady rule.
  • Do not idolize leaders or institutions. Trust God above all.
  • When wronged, bring your case to the Judge who sees.

Bible

1And 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.

6The 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?

12With 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.

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