4 A laughter to his friend I am: `He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter `is' the perfect righteous one.
He doth call Me, and I answer him, I `am' with him in distress, I deliver him, and honour him.
And now, laughed at me, Have the younger in days than I, Whose fathers I have loathed to set With the dogs of my flock.
And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.
If not -- mockeries `are' with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
and they were laughing at him. And he, having put all forth, doth take the father of the child, and the mother, and those with him, and goeth in where the child is lying,
and others of mockings and scourgings did receive trial, and yet of bonds and imprisonment;
And also the Pharisees, being lovers of money, were hearing all these things, and were deriding him,
Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again -- my righteousness `is' in it.
And I -- in Jehovah I do watch, I do wait for the God of my salvation, Hear me doth my God.
Call unto Me, and I do answer thee, yea, I declare to thee great and fenced things -- thou hast not known them.
With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth.
All beholding me do mock at me, They make free with the lip -- shake the head, `Roll unto Jehovah, He doth deliver him, He doth deliver him, for he delighted in him.'
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 12
Commentary on Job 12 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 12
In this and the two following chapters we have Job's answer to Zophar's discourse, in which, as before, he first reasons with his friends (see 13:19) and then turns to his God, and directs his expostulations to him, from thence to the end of his discourse. In this chapter he addresses himself to his friends, and,
Job 12:1-5
The reproofs Job here gives to his friends, whether they were just or no, were very sharp, and may serve for a rebuke to all that are proud and scornful, and an exposure of their folly.
Job 12:6-11
Job's friends all of them went upon this principle, that wicked people cannot prosper long in this world, but some remarkable judgment or other will suddenly light on them: Zophar had concluded with it, that the eyes of the wicked shall fail, ch. 11:20. This principle Job here opposes, and maintains that God, in disposing men's outward affairs, acts as a sovereign, reserving the exact distribution of rewards and punishments for the future state.
Job 12:12-25
This is a noble discourse of Job's concerning the wisdom, power, and sovereignty of God, in ordering and disposing of all the affairs of the children of men, according to the counsel of his own will, which none dares gainsay or can resist. Take both him and them out of the controversy in which they were so warmly engaged, and they all spoke admirably well; but, in that, we sometimes scarcely know what to make of them. It were well if wise and good men, that differ in their apprehensions about minor things, would see it to be for their honour and comfort, and the edification of others, to dwell most upon those great things in which they are agreed. On this subject Job speaks like himself. Here are no passionate complaints, no peevish reflections, but every thing masculine and great.
Thus are the revolutions of kingdoms wonderfully brought about by an overruling Providence. Heaven and earth are shaken, but the Lord sits King for ever, and with him we look for a kingdom that cannot be shaken.