Job 12

“And Job answered and said,” Naming Job keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.” The line’s distinctive content terms include despised, ease, feet. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” The line’s distinctive content terms include breath, hand, living. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ancient, days, length. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.” The line’s distinctive content terms include counsel, strength, understanding. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.” The line’s distinctive content terms include breaketh, built, opening. Its relationship to verses 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, overturn, sendeth. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.” The line’s distinctive content terms include deceived, deceiver, strength. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.” The line’s distinctive content terms include counsellors, fools, judges. Its relationship to verses 16 and 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bond, girdeth, girdle. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.” The line’s distinctive content terms include leadeth, mighty, overthroweth. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.” The line’s distinctive content terms include aged, removeth, speech. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.” The line’s distinctive content terms include contempt, mighty, poureth. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bringeth, darkness, death. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.” The line’s distinctive content terms include nations, destroyeth, enlargeth. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where…” The line’s distinctive content terms include causeth, chief, earth. Its relationship to verses 23 and 25 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.” The line’s distinctive content terms include dark, drunken, grope. Its relationship to verses 24 shows what work it does in this passage.