Job 12:23

²¹ He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

²² He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

²⁴ He 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.

²⁵ They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
KJV: He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
WEB: He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
ASV: He increaseth the nations, and he destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and he leadeth them captive.
DARBY: He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he spreadeth out the nations, and bringeth them in;
BLB: He makes great nations, and destroys them; He enlarges nations and guides them away.

ÅB: Han lar folkene bli store, og han lar dem gå til grunne; han gir folkene vidt rom, og han fører dem bort.
OTB: Han gjør nasjoner store, så ødelegger Han dem;
Han utvider nasjoner, så sprer Han dem.
B1930: Han lar folkene bli store, og han lar dem gå til grunne; han gir folkene vidt rum, og han fører dem bort.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 9:3
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
Read in context
Isaiah 26:15
Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.
Read in context
Isaiah 60:22
A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
Read in context
Psalms 107:38
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
Read in context
Jeremiah 33:22
As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
Read in context
Isaiah 27:6
He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.
Read in context
Exodus 1:20
Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
Read in context
Jeremiah 30:19
And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
Read in context