The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

Job 12

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And Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

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Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

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Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

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In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

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Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

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With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

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With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

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Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

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Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

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With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

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17

He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

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He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.

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He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

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He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

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He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

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He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

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He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

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He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

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They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

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Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

Job 12 is Job’s sarcastic response to his friends. He asserts that he is not inferior to them and that even the animals know that God is the sovereign creator of all life and the ruler of nations.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. Nature as a Teacher: "Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee" (v. 7). The order and life in the natural world testify to God’s constant hand of providence.
2. God’s Absolute Sovereignty: God builds up and pulls down; He leads counselors away spoiled and makes judges fools (v. 17). All human power is subject to His will.
3. Wisdom vs. Wit: Job reminds his friends that wisdom belongs to God, and simply being "right" in a debate doesn't mean one understands God’s heart.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

In Thy hand is the soul of every living thing, O Lord. Help us to learn from Thy creation and to submit to Thy sovereign power that rules over all the earth. Amen.

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