Job 5:12
New International Version
He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.

New Living Translation
He frustrates the plans of schemers so the work of their hands will not succeed.

English Standard Version
He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.

Berean Standard Bible
He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.

King James Bible
He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

New King James Version
He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.

New American Standard Bible
“He frustrates the schemes of the shrewd, So that their hands cannot attain success.

NASB 1995
“He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, So that their hands cannot attain success.

NASB 1977
“He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, So that their hands cannot attain success.

Legacy Standard Bible
He frustrates the thoughts of the crafty, So that their hands cannot attain success of sound wisdom.

Amplified Bible
“He frustrates the devices and schemes of the crafty, So that their hands cannot attain success or achieve anything of [lasting] worth.

Christian Standard Bible
He frustrates the schemes of the crafty so that they achieve no success.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He frustrates the schemes of the crafty so that they achieve no success.

American Standard Version
He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

Contemporary English Version
God swiftly traps the wicked

English Revised Version
He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He keeps shrewd people from carrying out their plans so that they cannot do anything successfully.

International Standard Version
He frustrates the plans of the crafty; so that what they work for never succeeds.

Majority Standard Bible
He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.

NET Bible
He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had planned!

New Heart English Bible
He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands can't perform their enterprise.

Webster's Bible Translation
He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

World English Bible
He frustrates the plans of the crafty, so that their hands can’t perform their enterprise.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Making void thoughts of the cunning, "" And their hands do not execute wisdom.

Young's Literal Translation
Making void thoughts of the subtile, And their hands do not execute wisdom.

Smith's Literal Translation
Bringing to nought the purposes of the crafty, and their hand shall not do an undertaking.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who bringeth to nought the designs of the malignant, so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had begun:

Catholic Public Domain Version
He dispels the thoughts of the spiteful, lest their hands be able to complete what they had begun.

New American Bible
He frustrates the plans of the cunning, so that their hands achieve no success;

New Revised Standard Version
He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot wisely perform their enterprise.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He brings the ideas of the wise to nothing that their hands will not perform a scheme
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can perform nothing substantial.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
frustrating the counsels of the crafty, and their hands shall not perform the truth:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Eliphaz Continues: God Blesses those who Seek Him
11He sets the lowly on high, so that mourners are lifted to safety. 12He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success. 13He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.…

Cross References
Psalm 33:10
The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.

Isaiah 8:10
Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”

Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

Isaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,

1 Corinthians 1:19
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Psalm 2:1-4
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: / “Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.” ...

Isaiah 19:3
Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists.

Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

Isaiah 29:14
Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”

1 Corinthians 3:19-20
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” / And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

Psalm 146:4
When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish.

Jeremiah 8:9
The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?

James 4:13-15
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” / You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. / Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”

Isaiah 30:1
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin.

Psalm 64:6-8
They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious. / But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded. / They will be made to stumble, their own tongues turned against them. All who see will shake their heads.


Treasury of Scripture

He disappoints the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

disappointeth.

Job 12:16,17
With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his…

Nehemiah 4:15
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

Psalm 33:10,11
The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect…

their hands.

Psalm 21:11
For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.

Isaiah 37:36
Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

Acts 12:11
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

their enterprise.

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Achieve Attain Carry Crafty Designs Devices Effect Execute Frustrates Frustrateth Hands Makes Making Perform Plans Plotting Purposes Shrewd Substantial Subtile Success Thoughts Thwarts Unable Void Wisdom Wise Wrong
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Achieve Attain Carry Crafty Designs Devices Effect Execute Frustrates Frustrateth Hands Makes Making Perform Plans Plotting Purposes Shrewd Substantial Subtile Success Thoughts Thwarts Unable Void Wisdom Wise Wrong
Job 5
1. Eliphaz shows that the end of the wicked is misery;
6. that man is born to trouble;
8. that God is to be regarded in affliction;
17. the happy end of God's correction.














He thwarts
The Hebrew root for "thwarts" is "parar," which means to break, frustrate, or annul. This word conveys the power and sovereignty of God in disrupting the plans of those who act with deceit and malice. In the context of the ancient Near East, where cunning and craftiness were often seen as virtues in political and social maneuvering, this phrase emphasizes God's ability to intervene and nullify human schemes that are contrary to His will. It serves as a reminder of the divine oversight that governs the affairs of men, ensuring that ultimately, justice prevails.

the schemes
The term "schemes" comes from the Hebrew word "mezimmah," which refers to plans, plots, or devices, often with a negative connotation of deceit or wickedness. In the biblical context, this word is frequently associated with the machinations of those who oppose God's righteous order. The use of this term highlights the moral dimension of human actions, suggesting that not all plans are neutral, but some are inherently opposed to divine principles. This serves as a caution to the faithful to align their intentions with God's purposes.

of the crafty
"Crafty" is translated from the Hebrew word "arum," which can mean shrewd, cunning, or prudent. While the word can have a positive connotation of wisdom, in this context, it refers to those who use their intelligence for deceitful purposes. The Bible often contrasts human cunning with divine wisdom, as seen in the account of the serpent in Genesis 3, who is described as "more crafty than any of the wild animals." This phrase underscores the futility of relying on human cleverness when it is set against God's omniscience and righteousness.

so that their hands
The phrase "their hands" symbolizes human action and effort. In biblical literature, hands are often used metaphorically to represent the execution of one's plans or the exertion of power. By stating that their hands find no success, the verse emphasizes the ultimate ineffectiveness of actions that are not aligned with God's will. This serves as a powerful reminder that human strength and effort are insufficient without divine blessing and guidance.

find no success
The Hebrew word for "success" is "tushiyyah," which can mean sound wisdom, success, or deliverance. In this context, it implies the failure of the wicked to achieve their intended outcomes. Theologically, this reflects the biblical principle that true success is not measured by worldly standards but by alignment with God's purposes. The verse reassures believers that despite appearances, God's justice will prevail, and those who rely on deceit will ultimately fail. This offers hope and encouragement to the faithful, affirming that God is actively involved in the world, working to bring about His righteous plans.

(12) So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.--Or, so that their hands can do-nothing that is sound or of worth, can accomplish nothing effectual.

Verse 12. - He disappointeth the devices of the crafty; or, frustrateth - makes them of no effect (comp. Psalm 33:10; Isaiah 8:10). Some suppose Eliphaz to insinuate here that Job's apparent wisdom has not been true wisdom, but cunning or craft, and that therefore God has brought it to nought. But to us it rather seems that he enunciates a.general sentiment, and a true one. He is giving examples of the "marvellous things" which God does (ver. 9), and naturally enumerates among them his victories over the craft and cunning of his adversaries (comp. Isaiah 44:25). So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise; literally, and their hands accomplish nothing solid. No substantial result is effected by all their scheming.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He thwarts
מֵ֭פֵר (mê·p̄êr)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6565: To break up, to violate, frustrate

the schemes
מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת (maḥ·šə·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4284: A contrivance, a texture, machine, intention, plan

of the crafty,
עֲרוּמִ֑ים (‘ă·rū·mîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6175: Crafty, shrewd, sensible

so that their hands
יְ֝דֵיהֶ֗ם (yə·ḏê·hem)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

find
תַעֲשֶׂ֥ינָה (ṯa·‘ă·śe·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

no
וְֽלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

success.
תּוּשִׁיָּֽה׃ (tū·šî·yāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8454: Support, ability, help, an undertaking, understanding


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OT Poetry: Job 5:12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty (Jb)
Job 5:11
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