12 For vain H5014 man H376 would be wise, H3823 though man H120 be born H3205 like a wild ass's H6501 colt. H5895
I said H559 in mine heart H3820 concerning the estate H1700 of the sons H1121 of men, H120 that God H430 might manifest H1305 them, and that they might see H7200 that they H1992 themselves are beasts. H929
So foolish H1198 was I, and ignorant: H3045 I was as a beast H929 before thee.
Who hath sent out H7971 the wild ass H6501 free? H2670 or who hath loosed H6605 the bands H4147 of the wild ass? H6171 Whose house H1004 I have made H7760 the wilderness, H6160 and the barren H4420 land his dwellings. H4908 He scorneth H7832 the multitude H1995 of the city, H7151 neither regardeth H8085 he the crying H8663 of the driver. H5065 The range H3491 of the mountains H2022 is his pasture, H4829 and he searcheth H1875 after H310 every green thing. H3387
A wild ass H6501 used H3928 to the wilderness, H4057 that snuffeth up H7602 the wind H7307 at her pleasure; H185 H5315 in her occasion H8385 who can turn her away? H7725 all they that seek H1245 her will not weary H3286 themselves; in her month H2320 they shall find H4672 her.
Who G5101 is a wise man G4680 and G2532 endued with knowledge G1990 among G1722 you? G5213 let him shew G1166 out of G1537 a good G2570 conversation G391 his G846 works G2041 with G1722 meekness G4240 of wisdom. G4678 But G1161 if G1487 ye have G2192 bitter G4089 envying G2205 and G2532 strife G2052 in G1722 your G5216 hearts, G2588 glory G2620 not, G3361 and G2532 lie not G5574 against G2596 the truth. G225 This G3778 wisdom G4678 descendeth G2076 G2718 not G3756 from above, G509 but G235 is earthly, G1919 sensual, G5591 devilish. G1141 For G1063 where G3699 envying G2205 and G2532 strife G2052 is, there G1563 is confusion G181 and G2532 every G3956 evil G5337 work. G4229 But G1161 the wisdom G4678 that is from above G509 is G2076 first G4412 pure, G3303 G53 then G1899 peaceable, G1516 gentle, G1933 and easy to be intreated, G2138 full G3324 of mercy G1656 and G2532 good G18 fruits, G2590 without partiality, G87 and G2532 without hypocrisy. G505
Among G1722 whom G3739 also G2532 we G2249 all G3956 had our conversation G390 in times past G4218 in G1722 the lusts G1939 of our G2257 flesh, G4561 fulfilling G4160 the desires G2307 of the flesh G4561 and G2532 of the mind; G1271 and G2532 were G2258 by nature G5449 the children G5043 of wrath, G3709 even G2532 as G5613 others. G3062
Let G1818 no man G3367 deceive G1818 himself. G1438 If any man G1536 among G1722 you G5213 seemeth G1380 to be G1511 wise G4680 in G1722 this G5129 world, G165 let him become G1096 a fool, G3474 that G2443 he may be G1096 wise. G4680 For G1063 the wisdom G4678 of this G5127 world G2889 is G2076 foolishness G3472 with G3844 God. G2316 For G1063 it is written, G1125 He taketh G1405 the wise G4680 in G1722 their own G846 craftiness. G3834 And G2532 again, G3825 The Lord G2962 knoweth G1097 the thoughts G1261 of the wise, G4680 that G3754 they are G1526 vain. G3152
Professing themselves G5335 to be G1511 wise, G4680 they became fools, G3471
He taketh H3920 the wise H2450 in their own craftiness: H6193 and the counsel H6098 of the froward H6617 is carried headlong. H4116
Surely I am more brutish H1198 than any man, H376 and have not the understanding H998 of a man. H120 I neither learned H3925 wisdom, H2451 nor have H3045 the knowledge H1847 of the holy. H6918 Who hath ascended up H5927 into heaven, H8064 or descended? H3381 who hath gathered H622 the wind H7307 in his fists? H2651 who hath bound H6887 the waters H4325 in a garment? H8071 who hath established H6965 all the ends H657 of the earth? H776 what is his name, H8034 and what is his son's H1121 name, H8034 if thou canst tell? H3045
A brutish H1198 man H376 knoweth H3045 not; neither doth a fool H3684 understand H995 this.
Surely men H120 H1121 of low degree are vanity, H1892 and men H376 of high degree are a lie: H3577 to be laid H5927 in the balance, H3976 they are altogether H3162 lighter than vanity. H1892 Trust H982 not in oppression, H6233 and become not vain H1891 in robbery: H1498 if riches H2428 increase, H5107 set H7896 not your heart H3820 upon them.
And unto man H120 he said, H559 Behold, the fear H3374 of the Lord, H136 that is wisdom; H2451 and to depart H5493 from evil H7451 is understanding. H998
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 11
Commentary on Job 11 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 11
Poor Job's wound's were yet bleeding, his sore still runs and ceases not, but none of his friends bring him any oil, any balm; Zophar, the third, pours into them as much vinegar as the two former had done.
Job 11:1-6
It is sad to see what intemperate passions even wise and good men are sometimes betrayed into by the heat of disputation, of which Zophar here is an instance. Eliphaz began with a very modest preface, ch. 4:2. Bildad was a little more rough upon Job, ch. 8:2. But Zophar falls upon him without mercy, and gives him very bad language: Should a man full of talk be justified? And should thy lies make men hold their peace? Is this the way to comfort Job? No, nor to convince him neither. Does this become one that appears as an advocate for God and his justice? Tantaene animis coelestibus irae?-In heavenly breasts can such resentment dwell? Those that engage in controversy will find it very hard to keep their temper. All the wisdom, caution, and resolution they have will be little enough to prevent their breaking out into such indecencies as we here find Zophar guilty of.
Job 11:7-12
Zophar here speaks very good things concerning God and his greatness and glory, concerning man and his vanity and folly: these two compared together, and duly considered, will have a powerful influence upon our submission to all the dispensations of the divine Providence.
Job 11:13-20
Zophar, as the other two, here encourages Job to hope for better times if he would but come to a better temper.