Job 12

Job taxeth the presumption and unkindness of his friends 1. Etc. Sheweth that the wicked do prosper here for the most part, so far from being always punished, 6. Exhorteth his friends better to improve their understanding and judgement, 11. Acknowledgeth the general doctrine of Gods wisdom, providence, power and justice, 13.

1. But Job answered, and said:

2. Forsooth, because ye are the people shall wisdom die with you. [Her speaketh ironically, as if he said; ye are the people it seemeth with whom wisdom is to be found: Others compared with you are but brutes, and I especially, as counting me no better then as the Colt of a wild ass, above chapter 11.12. Oth. Because ye are a people, i.e. being but few ye repute your selves as understanding as if ye were a whole nation.]

3. I have a heart too, as well as you [i.e. I am likewise endued with understanding, for to judge between truth and falsehood, between good and bad. Heart for understanding. See above 9.on verse 4.] I faint not before you. [Heb. I fall not before you, or more than you; viz. From the steps, or ascent of understanding and wisdom, i.e. as for understanding, I need not be ashamed before you, being of no lower or less degree in the same, then your selves. To fall, is sometimes as much with the Hebrews, as to be mean, unworthy and contemptible. Compare Nehem.6.16. and below 13.2.] and with whom are not the like thing? [i.e. who doth not know these things, which ye produced of Gods righteous Government, whereby he is wont to reward the good, and to punish the wicked? There is no singular matter in your arguments, but every one of the meanest capacity doth know as much.]

4. I am he (that) is a mock to his friend [or, a laughter, i.e. one, that by reason of his miserable condition is become a mocking stock, even to those, who for friendships sake, ought to pity and comfort me.] (but) crying to God that heareth him; [understand this crying of the friend that is mocked. Job will say; I am indeed now despised and mocked by you; but yet I am not without comfort by God; because he hears me when I cry unto him. This may likewise be understood of the Friend, that doth mock his neighbour being in adversity, but likewise believeth himself, to be in Gods favour and heard by him, because of his own living in peace and prosperity.] the righteous (and) upright, is a mock. [viz. To the wicked and perverse, who by their prosperity are lifted up and grown want on.]

5. He is a despised torch [i.e. as a despised torch, which is even spent, and wasted to the last snuff, and which is even spent, and wasted to the last snuff, and which cast away, as unserviceable, to give any light more.] according to the opinion of him that is at rest; [viz. From all fear of evil, as Proverbs 1:33. i.e. that is, or lives at ease and prospereth, without suffering, or expecting any trouble or disturbance from others.] he is ready to trip with the foot. [i.e. he seemeth to be near his downfall, by reason of the manifold crosses and vexations, that are fallen upon him. Job understands this of himself. Compare Psalms 35:15. and 38.18. Jeremy 20.10. Heb. Unto the tripping of the foot; or, (for to be) among them that trip, or stumble with the foot.]

6. The tents of the destroyers are at rest, [or, prosperous. This is said in opposition to what Jobs friends had taught and urged of the adversity and punishment of the wicked. See above chap.4.v.8,9. & 5. V.3,4. And 8.13,14,15. And 11.11,20.] and they that provoke God, have assurances [as strong holds and sorts, in which they trust.] because of that which God bringeth by [understand all manner of temporal blessings] with his hand. [Gods hand namely. Oth. For (him) to whom God bringeth (all) into his hand.]

7. And verily, ask but the Beasts, [i.e. observe and mark the beasts, and consider how they, through Gods providence, are so commodiously and usefully serviceable to the wicked: and contrarily often unserviceable, yea hurtful to the Godly. Or, take notice, I pray, how the lesser Beasts are oppressed by the greater, the tame ones by the savage, the silly by the wily, or crafty.] and every one of them shall teach it thee: [Heb. And it shall teach thee, i.e. each, or, every one of them shall teach thee. See Gen.47.on v.3. viz. That it goes often ill with the good, and well with the bad, and this the beasts declare, not by speech and reasoning, which they have not, but by what is done, or doth happen to this, and so in the sequel.] and the birds of heaven, the same shall make it known to thee.

8. Or speak to the earth, and she shall teach it thee: also the fishes of the Sea shall related it to thee.

9. Who doth not know by all these [Creatures namely. He will say, that they are all, as so many Witnesses of Gods free dispensing and disposing of his benefits and punishments, without always regarding the quality or condition of men.] that the hand of the LORD doth this? [viz. That the godly commonly are subject to many tribulations, and the wicked enjoy all manner of prosperity.]

10. In whose hand [i.e. power and subjection, See Gen.16.on v.6.] the soul of all that liveth [the word soul, doth signify here the life, or the animal soul that is in all living creatures.] and the spirit [this word hath regard to man, endued with a reasonable and immortal soul, which is called a spirit. See Numb.16.22. and the annotation.] of all flesh [understand the body of man, wherein the reasonable soul inhabites. So Gen.chap.17.3. Levit.19.28. Ezekiel 11:19.] of man. [the Hebrew word here used doth oft times signify as well the female, as the male sex, i.e. all mankind. So Exodus 19:13. etc 21.16. below here chap.15.16. and 34.11,&c.]

11. Shall not the ear try the words, [i.e. the understanding by means of the ears; the sense is. Doth not the understanding append the speechs and discourses, whether they be false or true, reasonable, or unreasonable, rational or absurd? Job giveth his friends to understand, in regard they knew well enough how to make use of their outward senses, that they ought likewise to apply their understanding to comprehend his arguments, and out of them the wonderful administration of God here below: Below chap.34.3. there is the same comparison.] as the palate tasteth the meat for (or of) it self?

12. In the decrepit (ones) is wisdom; and in the length of days understanding [as if he said: it’s true indeed that the old and very antitnt men ought to be wise, by reason of the experience they have of many things, nevertheless, I find that one is better instructed by God then by those old ones. Oth. Is wisdom in the decrepite? &c. Whereby Job it should seem, replyeth to that, which was objected to him, above chap.8.8,9,10. As if he said, ye my friends should indeed, by reason of your age and experience be able to comprehend the order of Gods wise Government, but the true wisdom is with God, which ye are not able to comprehend; nor his might and power neither, whereby he executeth whatsoever he hath determined in his wisdom.]

13. With him [viz. With God] is wisdom [of the difference of the Words Wisdom and Knowledge, or Understanding. See 1 Kings 3.on v.12.] and might, he hath counsel and understanding.

14. Behold, he breaketh down, [viz. Houses, palaces, strong holds, cities, &c.] and it shall not be rebuilded; he shutteth one up, [Heb. Man. The same word as above v.10.] and it shall not be opened [understand this shutting up, of restraints, imprisonings, besiegings, and of all kind of straights and perplexities, wherein somely so fast shut up, and are begirt so close, that they see no manner of rescue, or way, or means to get forth again. Compare Isa.22.22. Rev.3.7.]

15. Behold, he withholdeth the Waters, [See example hereof, Genesis 8:2. 1 Kin.17.1,7.] and they dry up; also, he letteth them forth [an example hereof. See Gen.7.11.] and they overturn the earth.

16. With him is power and wisdom [or, the substance or being (of things.)] the straying, and he that maketh to stray is his. [the sense is; that without Gods providence, none can erre or stray, nor bring others into error, which is to be understood generally of the erring and straying, not only of the body, but also of the Spirit: of the bodily straying we may see Psalms 107:4. of the spiritual Deuter.13.1. 1 Kings 2:20. Ezek.14.9.2. Thess.2.11. where they are ascribed to God; not as to an author or actor of sin, but as to a wise and holy Governor, and righteous Judge, and avenger thereof.]

17. He carrieth away the Counsellors, [Understand every wicked Counsellor, whoever, how great and crafty soever he be. A like kind of expression, we have above v.7. and below v.19.] bereaved: [viz. Of understanding Wisdom and Judgement.] and the Judges he maketh mad. [see example hereof, 2 Sam.17.14.23. Isa.19.12. 1 Cor.1.19.]

18. The bond of the Kings [i.e. the yoak of Tyranny, whereby they keep under and oppress their subjects] he looseth, [i.e. undoeth and bringeth to nothing.] and he hindeth the girdle on their Lions; [i.e. he doth not only deprive them of their power, which they had abused, but, if he pleased, doth reinvest them the same. For the girdle doth here signify their full power, ornaments and glory, which they have in their Governement. Isaiah 11:5. Jerem.13.1,2, &c. Others understand it, that he doth lead the Kings away in bonds like captives.]

19. He carrieth away the chieftains despoiled; [Understand every wicked Chieftain, or Prince, Commander, &c. See above on verse 17. And of the Hebrew word. See Gen.41.on verse 45.] and the mighty ones he overturneth [i.e. he confoundeth all their complottings, designs, means and practises, and reduceth them to nothing, or to their own ruin.]

20. He depriveth the faithful of speech [Hebr. Lip. See Gen.11.on verse 1. Etc above 2.on verse 10. The faithful, otherwise the wellspoken, or eloquent. Understand those, which besides the ability of their understanding to give good and faithful advice; are stedfast withal to continue and stand to it, and of ready utterance to deliver their minds, and persuade others, among these are to be accounted faithful Ambassadors, of whom is spoken Proverbs 25:13.] and the Judgement of the old he taketh away. [Hebr. The taste; but the word is likewise taken away. [Hebr. The taste; but the word is likewise taken comparatively for the understanding, reason and judgement of man, whereby he doth distinguish good from bad, and things honest from dsihonest. So Psalms 119:66. Prov.11.22. and to taste, for to judge, Prov.31.18.]

21. He powereth out contempt over the Princes [the Word doth properly signify such as are of themselves or freely liberal and bountiful. Exod.35.5. Thus the Princes and Nobles, and mighty ones are called, because they seek to get a train and to make themselves renowned by being bounteous and munificent. Compare Psalms 83:12. Prov.19.6. and Luke 22:25.] and he slackeneth the thong of the mighty [i.e. he weakeneth the strongest of all: for a slack thong, or girdle maketh a man the slacker of his limbs; but being girdle straight and close, it maketh him the more steddy, strong and expedite.]

22. He discovereth the depths, [i.e. the most hidden things. These are likewise called depths. Eccl.7.24. Dan.2.22. 1 Cor.2.10.] out of the darkness, and the shadow of death, [i.e. the most deep and abstrute things which one would have thought should never come to light. So below chap.34.22.] he bringeth forth into the light.

23. He multiplieth the nations [as before the Deluge, Gen.5.6.] etc destroyeth them he spreadeth the Nations abroad [as after the Deluge, Gen.11.12.] and leadeth them. [this some do understand for good, as a blessing, and some for evil, as a punishment.]

24. He taketh away the heart, [i.e. the Judgement and understanding. So above v.3.] from the heads of the people of the earth, [viz. From the rulers and Governors of Nations or Countries; who are often called thus. See Exodus 6:14. Numbers 1:16. Deuteronomy 1:13. Judges 11:8, etc.] and maketh them to stray in the Wilderness [i.e. leadeth them and their people together, by their own devices and designs into destruction.] where there is no way. [they being destitute of all good rule and government.]

25. They group in the darkness, where there is no light [Understand that darkness of their understanding. The sense being; that through Gods just judgement they grow so blinded and unadvised, that they can discern no way or means to escaped destruction.] and he maketh them to stray like a Drunkard. [Compare Gen.19.11. and 2 Kings 6:18.]