Job 12

Job · Chapter 12

Job 12:8

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
8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto 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
orא֤וֹ'oH0176A
or

אוֹ (o) 1) or, rather 1a) implying that the latter choice is preferred 1b) or if, introducing an example to be seen under a particular principle 1c) (in series) either...or, whether...or 1d) if perchance 1e) except, or else 2) whether, not the least, if, otherwise, also, and, then

complainשִׂ֣יחַSI-achH7878
to muse

שִׂיחַ (si.ach) 1) to put forth, mediate, muse, commune, speak, complain, ponder, sing 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to complain 1a2) to muse, meditate upon, study, ponder 1a3) to talk, sing, speak 1b) (Polel) to meditate, consider, put forth thoughts

to the earthלָאָ֣רֶץla-'A-retzH0776H
earth: soil

אֲרַע (a.ra) : soil earth, world, ground Aramaic of e.rets (אֶ֫רֶץ ": soil" H0776H)

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

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

and they may recountוִֽיסַפְּר֥וּvi-sa-pe-RUH5608A
to recount

סָפַר (sa.phar) v 1) to count, recount, relate 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to count (things) 1a2) to number, take account of, reckon 1b) (Niphal) to be counted, be numbered 1c) (Piel) to recount, rehearse, declare 1c1) to recount (something), rehearse 1c2) to talk 1c3) to count exactly or accurately 1d) (Pual) to be recounted, be rehearsed, be related

[the] fish ofדְּגֵ֣יde-GEIH1709H
fish

דָּג (dag) fish

the seaהַיָּֽם׃hai-YAMH3220G
sea

יָם (yam) : sea 1) sea 1a) Mediterranean Sea 1b) Red Sea 1c) Dead Sea 1d) Sea of Galilee 1e) sea (general) 1f) mighty river (Nile) 1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court) 1h) seaward, west, westward

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