Job 12

Job · Chapter 12

Job 12:7

1And Job answered and said,2No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?4I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.5He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.6The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.9Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.11Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?12With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.13With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.14Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.16With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.17He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.18He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.19He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.20He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.21He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.22He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.23He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.24He 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.25They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; And the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee:

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and butוְֽאוּלָ֗םve-'u-LAMH0199
but

אוּלָם (u.lam) 1) but, but indeed (a strong adversative) 2) however, nevertheless

askשְׁאַל־she-'al-H7592
to ask

שָׁאַל (sha.al) 1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to ask, ask for 1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow 1a3) to enquire, enquire of 1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle) 1a5) to seek 1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully 1c2) to beg, practise beggary 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to be given on request 1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)

pleaseנָ֣אna'H4994
please

נָא (na) 1) I (we) pray, now, please 1a) used in entreaty or exhortation

[the] animalsבְהֵמ֣וֹתve-he-MOTH0929
animal

בְּהֵמָה (be.he.mah) 1) beast, cattle, animal 1a) beasts (coll of all animals) 1b) cattle, livestock (of domestic animals) 1c) wild beasts

so it may teach youוְתֹרֶ֑ךָּve-to-RE-kaH3384B
to show

יָרָה (ya.rah) 1) to point out, show 1b) to direct, teach, instruct

and [the] bird[s] ofוְע֥וֹףve-'ofH5775
bird

עוֹף (oph) 1) flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds 1a) fowl, birds 1b) winged insects Aramaic equivalent: oph (עוֹף "bird" H5776)

the heavensהַ֝שָּׁמַ֗יִםha-sha-MA-yimH8064
heaven

שָׁמַיִם (sha.ma.yim) 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible heavens, sky 1a1) as abode of the stars 1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc 1b) Heaven (as the abode of God) Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)

so it may tellוְיַגֶּד־ve-ya-ged-H5046
to tell

נָגַד (na.gad) 1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known 1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare 1a1) to tell, announce, report 1a2) to declare, make known, expound 1a3) to inform of 1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim 1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess 1a5a) messenger (participle) 1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.