Job's Sarcastic Reply
Study note
Job responds with sharp sarcasm: 'You must be the only wise people, and wisdom will die with you!' He reminds them that he is just as intelligent as they are. He is a righteous man who called on God and was answered, yet now he is mocked. Meanwhile, robbers live in peace and those who provoke God are secure. Job is pointing out the flaw in their logic.
1 Then Job replied, And Job answered and said,
2 'Oh sure, you must be the only smart people alive! When you die, all wisdom will die right along with you!' No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3 'But I have a brain just like you do. You are no better than I am. Honestly, who does not already know the things you are saying?' But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4 'I have become a big joke to my own friends. Here I am, a man who prayed to God and God answered him, yet now I am being laughed at. A person who lives right and is blameless has become everyone's punch line.' I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
5 'People sitting comfortably have no problem looking down on someone else's misfortune. They figure that kind of trouble only comes to people who deserve it.' He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
6 'Meanwhile, thieves live in peace and people who insult God feel perfectly safe. They act like their own power is their god.' The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
Even the Animals Know
Study note
Job says that even the animals, birds, and fish know that God controls everything. All living creatures are in God's hand. Just as the tongue tastes food and the ear tests words, everyone can see that it is God who governs the world. This is common knowledge, not deep wisdom that only his friends possess.
7 'But go and ask the animals -- they will set you straight. Talk to the birds -- they have something to teach you.' But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
8 'Or have a conversation with the ground itself, and it will share its lessons. Let the fish in the ocean explain it to you.' Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9 'Every one of them knows that the Lord is the one who did all this.' Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
10 'He holds the life of every living thing in his hands. He holds the breath of every person.' In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
11 'Does the ear not test the words it hears, the same way the tongue tests the food it tastes?' Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12 'You would expect to find wisdom in people who have lived many years. A long life should bring deep understanding.' With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
God's Unstoppable Power
Study note
Job describes God's sovereign power. When God tears down, no one can rebuild. When God imprisons, no one can set free. He controls rain and drought. He strips leaders of their wisdom, humbles kings, and overthrows the mighty. He uncovers things hidden in darkness and makes nations rise and fall. He takes away the understanding of leaders and makes them wander in confusion. Job's point is that God's actions are not always easy to explain with simple formulas about reward and punishment.
13 'But the deepest wisdom and the greatest power belong to God alone. He is the source of all good advice and understanding.' With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
14 'When he tears something down, no one can rebuild it. When he locks a person away, no one can open the door.' Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 'When he stops the rain, everything dries up. When he lets the water loose, it floods the whole land.' Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16 'All strength and all victory belong to him. Both the person being tricked and the one doing the tricking are in his control.' With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 'He strips wise advisors of their smarts and turns respected judges into fools.' He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
18 'He takes away the power of kings and wraps them in the clothing of a prisoner.' He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
19 'He strips priests of their influence and topples leaders who have been in charge for years.' He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 'He takes away the words of people everyone trusts. He removes the good judgment of respected elders.' He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
21 'He dumps shame on powerful leaders and takes all the strength out of the mighty.' He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
22 'He pulls secrets out of the deepest darkness and drags things hidden in shadows right out into the open.' He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23 'He builds up nations and makes them powerful, and then he tears them apart. He helps them expand, and then he scatters them everywhere.' He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
24 'He takes away the minds of the earth's leaders and sends them wandering through empty, trackless wastelands.' 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.
25 'They stumble around in the dark with no light to guide them. He makes them stagger like people who have had too much to drink.' They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.