Job 12:14
12 Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.
13 Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
15 If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.
16 True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
- KJV
- Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
- WEB
- Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
- ASV
- Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
- DARBY
- Behold, he breaketh down, and it is not built again; he shutteth up a man, and there is no opening.
- BLB
- Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; He closes [up] upon a man, and it cannot be opened.
- ÅB
- Se, han river ned, og det bygges ikke opp igjen; han stenger for en mann, og det lukkes ikke opp.
- OTB
- Det Han bryter ned kan ikke bygges opp igjen;
den personen Han fengsler kan ikke slippes fri. - B1930
- Se, han river ned, og det bygges ikke op igjen; han stenger for en mann, og det lukkes ikke op.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 22:22
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
Read in contextRevelation 3:7
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.
Read in contextMalachi 1:4
Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.
Read in contextJob 11:10
If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?
Read in contextJob 37:7
He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work.
Read in context1 Samuel 26:8
Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!”
Read in contextJob 16:11
God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.
Read in contextJob 19:10
He tears me down on every side until I am gone; He uproots my hope like a tree.
Read in context