XII.

(1) And Job answered and said.--Each of the friends has now supplied his quota, and Job proceeds to reply to the third, showing that he is far more conversant with the wisdom and majesty of God than they are themselves, though in their own esteem they alone are wise.

Verses 1, 2. - And Job answered and said, No doubt but ye are the people. Bitterly ironical. Ye are those to whom alone it belongs to speak - the only "people" to whom attention is due. And wisdom shall die with you. "At your death," i.e., "all wisdom will have fled the earth; there will be no one left who knows anything." At least, no doubt, you think so.

12:1-5 Job upbraids his friends with the good opinion they had of their own wisdom compared with his. We are apt to call reproofs reproaches, and to think ourselves mocked when advised and admonished; this is our folly; yet here was colour for this charge. He suspected the true cause of their conduct to be, that they despised him who was fallen into poverty. It is the way of the world. Even the just, upright man, if he comes under a cloud, is looked upon with contempt.And Job answered and said. In reply to Zophar, and in defence of himself; what is recorded in this and the two following chapters.