Old Testament Commentary - Job 12

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 12 Job says: The souls of all things are in the hands of the Lord; and, With the ancient is wisdom; and, The Lord governs in all things.
1 AND Job answered and said, 2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. 3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? 4 I am as one ^amocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.		4^a TG Persecution
5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. 6 The ^atabernacles of robbers ^bprosper, and they that provoke God are secure; *into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.^a* 7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: 8 Or speak to the ^aearth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.	6^a into whose hand God bringeth abundantly Job points out that robbers and the wicked do prosper in the earth, which if God punished the wicked in all things they would rather be suffering. And just as the wick often do proper, even so do the righteous also suffer without guilt. So the logic of blame does not hold up and Job has stated that he is unjustly accused that his afflictions have come upon him due to his wickedness.	6^a HEB tents ^b Job 21:7; Ps. 73:12; Hel. 7:5-6 8^a Alma 30:44
9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? 10 In whose hand is the soul of every ^aliving thing, and the ^bbreath of all mankind. 11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?		10^a TG Nature, Earth ^b TG Breath of Life
12 With the ^aancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. 13 With him is ^awisdom and ^bstrength, he hath counsel and understanding. 14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.		12^a OR old men; TG Old Age 13^a 2 Ne. 9:8; Abr. 3:21 ^b TG Strength
15 Behold, he ^awithholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. 16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. 17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.		15^a Deut. 11:17
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. 19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. 20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
21 He poureth contempt upon ^aprinces, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. 22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. 23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.		21^a Isa. 40:23
24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to ^awander in a wilderness where there is no way. 25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.		24^a Amos 8:12 (11-13)