Print Page Options Listen to Job 12:1-6

12 And Job answered and said,

No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

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Job

12 Then Job replied:

“Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
    and wisdom will die with you!(A)
But I have a mind as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know all these things?(B)

“I have become a laughingstock(C) to my friends,(D)
    though I called on God and he answered(E)
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!(F)
Those who are at ease have contempt(G) for misfortune
    as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.(H)
The tents of marauders are undisturbed,(I)
    and those who provoke God are secure(J)
    those God has in his hand.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Job 12:6 Or those whose god is in their own hand

Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This

12 Then Job answered and said:

“No doubt you are the people,
    and wisdom will die with you.
But I have (A)understanding as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know (B)such things as these?
I am (C)a laughingstock to my friends;
    I, who (D)called to God and he answered me,
    a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.
In the thought of one who is (E)at ease there is contempt for misfortune;
    it is ready for those whose feet slip.
(F)The tents of robbers are at peace,
    and those who provoke God are secure,
    who bring their god in their hand.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Job 12:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

Job’s Reply to Zophar

12 Then Job answered:

No doubt you are the people,
and wisdom will die with you!
But I also have a mind like you;
I am not inferior to you.
Who doesn’t know the things you are talking about?[a](A)

I am a laughingstock to my[b] friends,
by calling on God, who answers me.[c]
The righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock.(B)
The one who is at ease(C) holds calamity in contempt
and thinks it is prepared for those whose feet are slipping.
The tents of robbers are safe,(D)
and those who trouble God are secure;
God holds them in his hands.[d](E)

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Footnotes

  1. 12:3 Lit With whom are not such things as these?
  2. 12:4 Lit his
  3. 12:4 Lit him
  4. 12:6 Or secure; to those who bring their god in their hands

Job Chides His Accusers

12 Then Job [a]responded,

“Truly then (A)you are the people,
And with you wisdom will die!
“But (B)I have intelligence as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
And [b]who does not know such things as these?
“I am a (C)joke to [c]my friends,
The one who called on God and He answered him;
The just and (D)blameless man is a joke.
[d]He who is at ease holds calamity in contempt,
As prepared for those whose feet slip.
“The (E)tents of the destroyers prosper,
And those who provoke God (F)are secure,
[e]Whom God brings (G)into their power.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 12:1 Lit answered and said
  2. Job 12:3 Lit with whom is there not like these?
  3. Job 12:4 Lit his
  4. Job 12:5 Lit Contempt for calamity is the thought of him who is at ease
  5. Job 12:6 Or He who brings God into his hand