Job 12
Job responds with biting sarcasm, declaring that he is not inferior to his friends. He describes God's sovereign power over nations, rulers, and nature, showing that God's ways transcend simple retribution.
JobChapter 12 of 4225 versesBerean Standard Bible
Read Job 12 and keep notes on it in Doxa's Daily Faith Steps.
Then Job answered:
“Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!
But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?
I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.
The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.
But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.
Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?
Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.
Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.
True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges.
He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists.
He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows the established.
He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.
He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.
He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.
Read next
How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.Cross-references for Job 12
“The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.””
“‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’”
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
“He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.”
“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.”
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, licensed CC BY.
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