Job 12: Ask the Animals

Job answers Zophar with sharp words: wisdom will not die with his friends, and he has understanding as well as they. He feels like a joke to his neighbors. He says to ask the animals, the birds, the earth, and the fish, for they know that Yahweh's hand has done this. In God's hand is the life of every living thing. With God is wisdom and might, counsel and understanding.

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Bible:

Read Job 12

World English Bible · 25 verses

¹ Then Job answered,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² “No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ “But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Who doesn’t know that in all these, Yahweh’s hand has done this,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ “With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Answer key (print separately)More print options ↓

Open Preschool on its own page

Job 12 · Preschool

Ask the Animals

Name Date

Color the bird, the fish, and the sheep! God made them all.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.

Job 12:7 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: The animals show us that God made everything. God holds the life of every living thing in His hand.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Job 12 · Grade 4

All Creation Knows

Name Date

Read and Think

Job answered Zophar with sharp words. No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom will die with you, he said. He had understanding as well as they did. He felt like a joke to his neighbors, though he was just and blameless.

Job said even the animals know what the friends claim to teach. Ask the animals, the birds of the sky, the earth, and the fish of the sea. All of them know that Yahweh's hand has done this. In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

Job described God's wisdom and power. With God is wisdom and might. He breaks down and builds, withholds the waters and sends them out. He leads counselors away and makes judges fools. He loosens the bond of kings and increases the nations. Job agreed God is sovereign over all.

Show What You Know

What did Job say sarcastically to his friends?
What do the animals, birds, earth, and fish know?
What is in God's hand?
What did Job agree about God?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

animalsbirdswisdomhandmight

No doubt, but you are the people, and will die with you, he said.
Job said even the know what the friends claim to teach.
Ask the animals, the of the sky, the earth, and the fish of the sea.
In His is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
With God is wisdom and .

Think About It

Creation shows that God made everything. What part of creation makes you think of God's power?
Every breath is in God's hand. How can you thank God for your life today?

Memory Verse

“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

Job 12:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for holding every living thing in Your hand. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you answer kindly when someone hurts you?
How does Job show God rules over kings and judges?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Job 12 · Grade 5

The Breath of All Mankind

Name Date

Read and Think

Job answers Zophar with irony. No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. He feels like a joke to his neighbor, though he called on God and God answered him. The just, the blameless man is a joke. He notes that those at ease have contempt for the misfortune of others.

Job says the friends' lesson is common knowledge. But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you. Who doesn't know that in all these, Yahweh's hand has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind? This is the only time in the dialogues that Job uses the name Yahweh.

Job then praises God's sovereign wisdom. With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding. He breaks down, and it can't be built again. He withholds the waters, and they dry up. He leads counselors away stripped and makes judges fools. He uncovers deep things out of darkness. Job agrees God is all-powerful. What troubles him is not God's power but why that power has come against him.

Show What You Know

How does Job answer Zophar's claim to wisdom?
What does Job say the animals, birds, earth, and fish know?
What does Job say is in God's hand?
What is unusual about Job's use of the name Yahweh here?
What troubles Job, if not God's power?

Crossword

Across

the ____ of the sky, and they will tell you
In whose ____ is the life of every living thing
With God is ____ and might.

Down

ask the ____, now, and they will teach you
The ____ of the sea will declare to you

Think About It

Job says all creation knows God's hand made it. How can you see God's work in creation this week?
God holds the breath of all mankind. How should that change the way you treat every person?

Memory Verse

“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

Job 12:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for holding every living thing in Your hand. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How does God's power over the world comfort you?
What in nature reminds you that God is in control?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All Job chapters · All books

Job 12: Ask the Animals

Read Job 12

Worksheets

Ask the Animals

Prayer

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God Made Animals

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Mini Maze

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God's Hand

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Ask the Animals

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Ask the Animals

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In God's Hand

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Ask the Animals

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All Creation Knows

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

The Breath of All Mankind

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options