Job 12:4
New International Version
“I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God and he answered— a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!

New Living Translation
Yet my friends laugh at me, for I call on God and expect an answer. I am a just and blameless man, yet they laugh at me.

English Standard Version
I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.

Berean Standard Bible
I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

King James Bible
I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

New King James Version
“I am one mocked by his friends, Who called on God, and He answered him, The just and blameless who is ridiculed.

New American Standard Bible
“I am a joke to my friends, The one who called on God and He answered him; The just and blameless man is a joke.

NASB 1995
“I am a joke to my friends, The one who called on God and He answered him; The just and blameless man is a joke.

NASB 1977
“I am a joke to my friends. The one who called on God, and He answered him; The just and blameless man is a joke.

Legacy Standard Bible
I am a laughingstock to my friends, The one who called on God and He answered him; The righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock.

Amplified Bible
“I am a joke to my friends; I, one whom God answered when he called upon Him— A just and blameless man is a joke [and laughed to scorn].

Christian Standard Bible
I am a laughingstock to my friends, by calling on God, who answers me. The righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I am a laughingstock to my friends, by calling on God, who answers me. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

American Standard Version
I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And there was laughter with his neighbors, and he called to God and he answered him, because he is pleased with righteous men without blemish

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.

Contemporary English Version
I have always lived right, and God answered my prayers; now friends make fun of me.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.

English Revised Version
I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon God, and he answered him: the just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I am a laughingstock to my neighbors. I am one who calls on God and expects an answer. A man of integrity, a man who is righteous, has become a laughingstock.

Good News Translation
Even my friends laugh at me now; they laugh, although I am righteous and blameless; but there was a time when God answered my prayers.

International Standard Version
"I'm a laughingstock to my friends, someone who called on God. But then he answered this upright and blameless man, and I have become a laughingstock.

JPS Tanakh 1917
I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, A man that called upon God, And He answered him; The just, the innocent man is a laughing-stock,

Literal Standard Version
I am a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers him, | A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

Majority Standard Bible
I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

New American Bible
I have become the sport of my neighbors: “The one whom God answers when he calls upon him, The just, the perfect man,” is a laughingstock;

NET Bible
I am a laughingstock to my friends, I, who called on God and whom he answered--a righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock!

New Revised Standard Version
I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called upon God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, I am a laughingstock.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
I am as one mocked by his neighbor, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is derided.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
A laughter to his friend I am: 'He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter is the perfect righteous one.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Responds to Zophar
3But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these? 4I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock. 5The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.…

Cross References
Matthew 9:24
"Go away," He told them. "The girl is not dead, but asleep." And they laughed at Him.

Job 6:29
Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.

Job 9:21
Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.

Job 12:5
The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.

Job 13:18
Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.

Job 17:2
Surely mockers surround me, and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.

Job 17:6
He has made me a byword among the people, a man in whose face they spit.


Treasury of Scripture

I am as one mocked of his neighbor, who calls on God, and he answers him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

one mocked

Job 11:3
Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

Job 16:10
They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

Job 17:2,6
Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? …

calleth

Job 16:20
My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

Psalm 91:15
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

the just

Proverbs 14:2
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

Mark 5:40
And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

Luke 16:14
And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

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Blameless Cause Derided Derision Friend Friends Innocent Laughed Laughing Makes Mere Mocked Neighbor Neighbour Righteous Scorn Seems Sport Upright Wrong
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Blameless Cause Derided Derision Friend Friends Innocent Laughed Laughing Makes Mere Mocked Neighbor Neighbour Righteous Scorn Seems Sport Upright Wrong
Job 12
1. Job maintains himself against his friends that reprove him
7. He acknowledges the doctrine of God's omnipotence














(4) I am as one mocked of his neighbour.--The laughing-stock of his companion--he who called on God, and He answered him. This is either the character Job claims for himself, or it is the supposed taunt of his friends--the righteous and the perfect a laughing-stock, or, the righteous and the perfect might be a laughing-stock. Ridicule is no test of truth or of merit.

Verse 4. - I am as one mocked of his neighbour. You have accused me of mockery (Job 11:3): but it is I that have been mocked of you. The allusion is probably to Job 11:2, 3, 11, 12, and 20. Who calleth upon God, and he answereth him. You mock me, though I have always clung to religion, have called upon God in prayer, and from time to time had my prayers answered by him. Thus it is the just upright man that is laughed to scorn.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I am
אֶֽהְיֶ֗ה (’eh·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a laughingstock
שְׂחֹ֤ק (śə·ḥōq)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7814: Laughter, derision, sport

to my friends,
לְרֵעֵ֨הוּ ׀ (lə·rê·‘ê·hū)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

though I called
קֹרֵ֣א (qō·rê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

on God,
לֶ֭אֱלוֹהַּ (le·’ĕ·lō·w·ah)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 433: God -- a deity, the Deity

and He answered.
וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑הוּ (way·ya·‘ă·nê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

The righteous
צַדִּ֥יק (ṣad·dîq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

and upright man
תָּמִֽים׃ (tā·mîm)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 8549: Entire, integrity, truth

is a laughingstock.
שְׂ֝ח֗וֹק (ḥō·wq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7814: Laughter, derision, sport


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OT Poetry: Job 12:4 I am like one who (Jb)
Job 12:3
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