Job 12

Job Presents His Case

1 Then Job answered:

2 “Truly then you are the people ‡ Isa 5:211Co 4:101Co 6:5Job 11:12Job 11:2Job 11:6Job 15:2Job 17:10 +6

with whom wisdom itself will die!

3 But I also have a mind; ‡ Job 13:2-52Co 11:21-23Pro 26:42Co 11:5Job 26:2-3Job 6:6-7

I am not inferior to you.

Who does not know such things as these?

4 I am a laughingstock to my friends, ‡ Job 30:1Job 17:6Job 21:3Psa 91:15Jer 33:3Job 16:10Job 17:2Psa 22:7-8 +11

though I called on God, and He answered.

The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

5 The one at ease scorns misfortune ‡ Mat 25:8Pro 13:9Psa 17:5Amo 6:1-6Deu 32:35Jer 13:16Job 16:4Job 18:5 +6

as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.

6 The tents of robbers are safe, ‡ Job 9:24Psa 73:11-12Job 21:7-15Psa 17:14Psa 37:1Psa 37:35Jer 5:27Job 22:18

and those who provoke God are secure—

those who carry their god in their hands. ¹

7 But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ‡ Isa 1:3Jer 8:7Pro 6:6Job 21:29-30

ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.

8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;

let the fish of the sea inform you.

9 Which of all these does not know ‡ Isa 41:20Jer 27:5-6Rom 11:361Sa 2:7Act 19:35Dan 9:17Dan 5:18Deu 8:17-18 +3

that the hand of the LORD has done this?

10 The life of every living thing is in His hand, ‡ Act 17:28Job 33:4Act 17:25Job 27:3Num 16:22Dan 5:23Psa 146:3-4Jhn 3:6 +4

as well as the breath of all mankind.

11 Does not the ear test words ‡ Job 34:3Heb 5:141Pe 2:3Job 6:30Php 1:101Co 10:15

as the tongue tastes its food?

12 Wisdom is found with the elderly, ‡ Job 32:7Job 15:10Job 8:8

and understanding comes with long life.

13 Wisdom and strength belong to God; ‡ Job 36:5Job 9:4Pro 2:6-7Jas 1:5Job 28:20-28Dan 2:20Eph 1:11Pro 8:14 +13

counsel and understanding are His.

14 What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; ‡ Isa 22:22Rev 3:7Job 11:10Mal 1:41Sa 17:461Sa 26:8Jer 51:58Job 16:11 +8

the man He imprisons cannot be released.

15 If He holds back the waters, they dry up, ‡ 1Ki 17:1Amo 5:81Ki 8:35-36Gen 6:13Gen 6:17Gen 7:11Jas 5:17-18Jer 14:22 +6

and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.

16 True wisdom and power belong to Him. ‡ 1Ki 22:22-23Ezk 14:9Job 12:13Job 13:9Job 13:7Mat 6:13

The deceived and the deceiver are His.

17 He leads counselors away barefoot ‡ Isa 29:141Co 1:19-202Sa 17:232Sa 15:312Sa 17:14Isa 19:12-14Job 3:14Job 9:24

and makes fools of judges.

18 He loosens the bonds placed by kings ‡ Dan 2:21Psa 116:162Ch 33:11-14Jer 52:31-34Rev 19:16

and fastens a belt around their waists.

19 He leads priests away barefoot ‡ Isa 37:36-38Isa 45:11Sa 17:45-46Job 24:22Job 34:28Job 35:9Jos 10:24Jos 10:42 +2

and overthrows the established.

20 He deprives the trusted of speech ‡ Job 32:9Job 17:4Job 12:24Isa 3:1-3Job 39:17Pro 10:21Pro 12:19Pro 12:22

and takes away the discernment of elders.

21 He pours out contempt on nobles ‡ Psa 107:401Ki 21:23-242Ki 9:262Ki 9:34-37Act 12:23Dan 2:21-22Dan 4:32-33Eph 6:10 +10

and disarms the mighty.

22 He reveals the deep things of darkness ‡ Dan 2:221Co 4:51Co 2:10Job 3:5Luk 1:79Amo 5:8Mat 10:26Job 28:20-23 +6

and brings deep shadows into light.

23 He makes nations great and destroys them; ‡ Isa 9:3Isa 26:15Isa 60:22Psa 107:38Exo 1:20Exo 1:7Isa 27:6Isa 51:2 +3

He enlarges nations, then disperses them.

24 He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason ‡ Psa 107:40Job 12:20Hos 7:11Dan 4:16Dan 4:33Isa 19:1Isa 6:9-10Job 17:4 +1

and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.

25 They grope in the darkness without light; ‡ Job 5:14Psa 107:27Isa 24:20Isa 19:141Jn 2:11Deu 28:29Gen 19:11Isa 59:10 +1

He makes them stagger like drunkards.