The Book of Job Paraphrased, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
ARGUMENT.
In this Chapter Job taxes all his three Friends with too great a conceit of their own Wiſedom, which had not, as yet, taught them common Humanity to the miſerable. And lets them underſtand, that he need not come to them to learn, but might rather teach them the falſeneſs of that Propoſition, wherewith Zophar had concluded his Speech, concerning the Infelicity of the Wicked. For the contrary, he tells them, was obvious to ſenſe, v. 7, 8, &c. And as for what Zophar had diſcourſed of the Wiſedom and Power of God, he would have them know, that he was as well skill'd in thoſe Points as the beſt of them, and underſtood as much of the Hiſtory of ancient Times: particularly of the vain attempt at the Tower of Babel, unto which it is probable he hath reſpect in the 14. verſe; as, in all the following, he ſeems to have to what you reade in XIV. Gen. 5, 6, 7, 8. of the rooting out of thoſe fierce Giants the Rephaim, and other ſuch like barbarous and rapacious people; of the particulars of which we have now no Records remaining.
1. AND Job anſwered, and ſaid,1. TO this Job replied in ſuch words as theſe.
2. No doubt but ye are the people, and wiſedom ſhall die with you.2. You believe then there are no men of ſenſe in the world beſides your ſelves: ſo that if you were dead, there would be no Wiſedom left among us.
3. But I have underſtanding as well as you; I am not inferiour to you: yea, who knoweth not ſuch things as theſe?3. Let not your vanity abuſe you; I have Underſtanding as well and as much as you; and ſo hath everybody elſe: for I ſee nothing ſingular in all you have ſaid.
4. I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he anſwereth him: the juſt upright man is laughed to ſcorn.4. I am not ſo ſimple but I ſee how you deride your Friend, when you bid him call upon God that He may anſwer him. But this is no new thing, the beſt of men hath been mock'd at on this faſhion.
5. He that is ready to ſlip with his feet, is as a lamp deſpiſed in the thought of him that is at eaſe.5. Though he be as a Lamp, yet they who are dazzled with the ſplendour of worldly Proſperity deſpiſe him: the Upright is never acceptable to him who is not ſtedfaſt in his goings.
6. The tabernacles of robbers proſper, and they that provoke God are ſecure; into whoſe hand God bringeth abundantly.6. For they thrive and flouriſh, though they rob the Juſt; and even ſuch men live without diſturbance, as provoke God with thoſe very things which He beſtows upon them with his own hand.
7. But ask now the beaſts, and they ſhall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they ſhall tell thee:7. Thou needeſt not go any farther then to the Beaſts or Birds, to learn how well the Wicked fare.
8. Or ſpeak to the earth, and it ſhall teach thee; and the fiſhes of the ſea ſhall declare unto thee.8. The Earth brings forth her fruit to them abundantly; and the Fiſhes of the Sea deny them not their ſervice.
9. Who knoweth not in all theſe, that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?9. Who is ſo ſtupid as not to underſtand by all theſe, that God hath ordered it ſhould be thus?
10. In whoſe hand is the ſoul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.10. Whoſe right it is to diſpoſe of all creatures, as well as of mankind.
11. Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taſt his meat?11. Cannot the mind diſtinguiſh truth from falſhood, as exactly as the palate ſweet from bitter?
12. With the ancient is wiſedom; and in length of days, underſtanding.12. And the older we grow, the wiſer one would think we ſhould be.
13. With him is wiſedom and ſtrength, he hath counſel and underſtanding.13. But what is all our wiſedom to God's? who (as He knows, ſo) can doe all things; and he never errs in his underſtanding, or miſcarries in his deſigns.
14. Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he ſhutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.14. In is not in the power of any creature to repair that which He throws down; nor to extricate that man whom He caſts into difficulties and ſtreights.
15. Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: alſo he ſendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.15. If He deny us Rain, the waters themſelves dry up: and He ſends ſuch Flouds as break the ſtrongeſt banks.
16. With him is ſtrength and wiſedom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.16. Nor is his Wiſedom, as I ſaid, inferiour to his Power: But the Subtlety of thoſe who deceive is as well known to Him, as the Sillineſs of thoſe who are deceived.
17. He leadeth counſellers away ſpoiled, and maketh the judges fools.17. He defeats the wiſeſt Stateſmen, and infatuates the ableſt Senatours:
18. He looſeth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loyns with a girdle.18. So that they are not able to keep the Crown on the head of their Kings; but they are ſtript of their royal ornaments, and bound in chains.
19. He leadeth princes away ſpoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.19. Their great Miniſters are carried captives with them; nor are the moſt powerfull forces they can raiſe able to defend them.
20. He removeth away the ſpeech of the truſty, and taketh away the underſtanding of the aged.20. Eloquence, Fidelity, and the Prudence which hath been gained by long experience, ſignify as little for their preſervation.
21. He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the ſtrength of the mighty.21. The Nobleneſs of their birth or their Munificence is not at all regarded: and He diſſolves the ſtrongeſt Confederacies, into which their Friends enter for their ſupport.
22. He diſcovereth deep things out of darkneſs, and bringeth out to light the ſhadow of death.22. No Plot can be ſo ſecretly carried but He diſcovers it; and brings to light that which hath been contrived in the greateſt obſcurity.
23. He increaſeth the nations, and deſtroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and ſtreightneth them again.23. Whole Nations (as well as their Princes) are perfectly under his power; whom He ſometimes multiplies, and again diminiſhes by war, famine, or peſtilence. He inlarges their bounds, and, when he pleaſes, reduces them into narrower limits.
24. 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.24. He deprives their Leaders both of courage and judgment; and brings them into ſuch confuſion, that they know not which way to turn themſelves.
25. They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to ſtagger like a drunken man.25. Blind men ſee as much as they; and their Counſels and motions are as uncertain as thoſe of a man in drink.