12:2 No doubt but ye [are] the people, and a wisdom shall die
with you.
(a) Because you do not feel what you speak, you think the
whole stands in words, and so flatter yourselves as
though no one else knew anything, or could know except
you.
12:4 I am b [as] one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon
God, and he c answereth him: the just upright [man is]
laughed to scorn.
(b) He reproves his friends for two faults: one, that they
thought they had better knowledge than they did: and
the other, that instead of true consolation, they
derided and despised their friend in his adversity.
(c) Who being a mocker and a wicked man, thinks that no man
is in God's favour but he, because he has all things
that he desires.
12:5d He that is ready to slip with [his] feet [is as] a lamp
despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
(d) As the rich do not esteem a light or torch that goes
out, so he despised he that falls from prosperity to
adversity.
12:7 But ask now the beasts, e and they shall teach thee; and
the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
(e) He declares to them that disputed against him, that
their wisdom is common to all, and such as the very
brute beasts teach daily.
12:11 Doth not the ear f try words? and the mouth taste his
meat?
(f) He exhorts them to be wise in judging, and as well to
know the right use of their God-given ears, as well as
their mouths.
12:12 With the g ancient [is] wisdom; and in length of days
understanding.
(g) Though men by age and continuance of time attain
wisdom, yet it is not comparable to God's wisdom, nor
able to comprehend his judgments, in which he answers
to that which was alleged, (Job 8:8).
12:16 With him [is] strength and wisdom: the deceived and the
h deceiver [are] his.
(h) He shows that there is nothing done in this world
without God's will and ordinance, else he would not be
Almighty.
12:18i He looseth k the bond of kings, and girdeth their
loins with a girdle.
(i) He takes wisdom from them.
(k) He abates the humour of princes, and brings them into
the subjection of others.
12:20 He removeth away the speech of the l trusty, and taketh
away the understanding of the aged.
(l) He causes their words to have no credit, which is when
he will punish sin.
12:23 He m increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he
enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them [again].
(m) In this discourse of God's wonderful works, Job shows
that whatever is done in this world both in the order
and change of things, is by God's will and
appointment, in which he declares that he thinks well
of God, and is able to set forth his power in words as
they that reasoned against him were.
