Job 12:6
New International Version
The tents of marauders are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure— those God has in his hand.

New Living Translation
But robbers are left in peace, and those who provoke God live in safety— though God keeps them in his power.

English Standard Version
The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.

Berean Standard Bible
The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.

King James Bible
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

New King James Version
The tents of robbers prosper, And those who provoke God are secure— In what God provides by His hand.

New American Standard Bible
“The tents of the destroyers prosper, And those who provoke God are secure, Whom God brings into their power.

NASB 1995
“The tents of the destroyers prosper, And those who provoke God are secure, Whom God brings into their power.

NASB 1977
“The tents of the destroyers prosper, And those who provoke God are secure, Whom God brings into their power.

Legacy Standard Bible
The tents of the destroyers are complacent, And those who provoke God are secure, Whom God brings into their power.

Amplified Bible
“The tents of the destroyers prosper; And those who provoke God are [apparently] secure, Whom God brings into their power.

Christian Standard Bible
The tents of robbers are safe, and those who trouble God are secure; God holds them in his hands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure; God’s power provides this.

American Standard Version
The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

Contemporary English Version
Robbers and other godless people live safely at home and say, "God is in our hands!"

English Revised Version
The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[But] robbers' tents are prosperous, and there is security for those who provoke God, for those whose god is their power.

Good News Translation
But thieves and godless people live in peace, though their only god is their own strength.

International Standard Version
The tents of robbers are at rest, and those who provoke God are secure, that is, those who carry their god in their pocket.

Majority Standard Bible
The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure?those who carry their god in their hands.

NET Bible
But the tents of robbers are peaceful, and those who provoke God are confident--who carry their god in their hands.

New Heart English Bible
The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.

Webster's Bible Translation
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

World English Bible
The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The tents of spoilers are at peace, "" And those provoking God have confidence, "" Into whose hand God has brought.

Young's Literal Translation
At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.

Smith's Literal Translation
The tents to those oppressing will be secure, and confidence to those provoking God to anger: whom God will bring into his hand.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:

Catholic Public Domain Version
The tabernacles of robbers are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things into their hands.

New American Bible
Yet the tents of robbers are prosperous, and those who provoke God are secure, whom God has in his power.

New Revised Standard Version
The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hands.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The tabernacle of robbers shall be removed, and the confidence of those who provoke God; for there is no God in their heart.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The tents of robbers and the trust of those who are angry with God will be removed, because there is no God in their heart
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure, In whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition made of them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Responds to Zophar
5The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping. 6The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure— those who carry their god in their hands. 7But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.…

Cross References
Psalm 73:3-12
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. / They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed. / They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men. ...

Jeremiah 12:1-2
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? / You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

Habakkuk 1:13
Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

Psalm 37:7-9
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes. / Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm. / For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

Psalm 10:3-11
For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. / In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God. / He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes. ...

Malachi 3:15
So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”

Ecclesiastes 8:14
There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

Psalm 94:3-7
How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult? / They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast. / They crush Your people, O LORD; they oppress Your heritage. ...

Proverbs 1:32
For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

Isaiah 57:1-2
The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous are taken away from the presence of evil. / Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest, lying down in death.

Matthew 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Luke 12:16-21
Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ / Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. ...

James 5:1-6
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. ...

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

2 Peter 2:12-15
These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed. / The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you. / Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed. ...


Treasury of Scripture

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings abundantly.

tabernacles

Job 9:24
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

Job 21:7-15
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? …

Psalm 17:14
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

Jump to Previous
Abundantly Carry Destroyers Destruction Hand Hands Marauders Moved Peace Power Prosper Provoke Robbers Safe Secure Strength Tabernacles Tents Undisturbed Wealth Whatsoever Wrath
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Abundantly Carry Destroyers Destruction Hand Hands Marauders Moved Peace Power Prosper Provoke Robbers Safe Secure Strength Tabernacles Tents Undisturbed Wealth Whatsoever Wrath
Job 12
1. Job maintains himself against his friends that reprove him
7. He acknowledges the doctrine of God's omnipotence














The tents of robbers are safe
This phrase reflects Job's observation of the apparent prosperity of the wicked. In the ancient Near Eastern context, tents symbolize temporary dwellings, often associated with nomadic tribes or those living outside city walls. The term "robbers" suggests individuals who gain wealth through unjust means. Job's lament highlights a common biblical theme: the prosperity of the wicked, which is also addressed in Psalms 73:3-12 and Jeremiah 12:1. This apparent contradiction challenges the retributive justice theology held by Job's friends, who believe that suffering is always a result of sin.

and those who provoke God are secure—
Here, Job points out the paradox of those who openly defy God yet live in security. This security seems to contradict the expected divine justice. The cultural context of the time often equated material success with divine favor, yet Job's experience and observation challenge this notion. This theme is echoed in Malachi 3:15, where the prophet questions why evildoers prosper. Job's statement serves as a critique of simplistic theological views and invites deeper reflection on the nature of God's justice and timing.

those who carry their god in their hands.
This phrase likely refers to idol worship, where individuals create and carry physical representations of their deities. In the ancient world, idol worship was prevalent, with people crafting gods from wood, stone, or metal, as seen in Isaiah 44:9-20. The irony in Job's statement is that these idols, which are powerless and man-made, seem to offer security to their worshipers. This critique of idolatry aligns with the broader biblical narrative that emphasizes the futility of worshiping anything other than the one true God, as seen in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-4). The phrase underscores the tension between visible prosperity and true spiritual security.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and integrity who undergoes severe trials and suffering.

2. Robbers
Represents those who live unrighteously, engaging in theft and deceit, yet appear to prosper.

3. God
The Almighty, whom Job and his friends discuss extensively throughout the book, questioning His justice and the nature of suffering.

4. Job's Friends
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, they are part of the broader context, offering their perspectives on Job's suffering.

5. The Tents
Symbolic of the temporary dwellings and lives of those who live in opposition to God's ways, yet seem to enjoy security.
Teaching Points
The Paradox of Prosperity
The verse highlights the perplexing reality that those who live in defiance of God often appear to thrive. This challenges believers to trust in God's ultimate justice and timing.

The Illusion of Security
The security of the wicked is temporary and deceptive. True security is found in a relationship with God, not in material wealth or power.

The Nature of Idolatry
"Those who carry their god in their hands" suggests reliance on man-made idols or wealth. Believers are reminded to place their trust in God alone, not in earthly possessions.

Faith Amidst Injustice
Job's observation encourages believers to maintain faith even when life seems unfair, trusting that God sees and will ultimately set things right.

The Call to Righteousness
Despite the apparent success of the wicked, believers are called to pursue righteousness, knowing that God's judgment is sure and His rewards eternal.(6) Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.--Some understand these words, to him that bringeth his god in his hand (comp. Habakkuk 1:11; Habakkuk 1:16); but the other seems more in accordance with the usage. (Comp., e.g., Proverbs 3:27, &c.)

Verse 6. - The tabernacles of robbers prosper. Having set at rest the personal question between himself and his friends, Job reverts to his main argument, and maintains that, the whole course of mundane events being under God's governance, all the results are to be attributed to him, and among them both the prosperity of the wicked, and, by parity of reasoning, the sufferings of the righteous. And they that provoke God are secure (comp. Job 9:24; Job 10:3). Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. So both the Authorized and the Revised Versions; but recent critics mostly render, "who bring their God in their hand," i.e. "who regard their own right hand as their God" (comp. Virgil, 'Aen., 10:773, "Dextra mihi Dens")

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The tents
אֹֽהָלִ֨ים ׀ (’ō·hā·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 168: A tent

of robbers
לְשֹׁ֥דְדִ֗ים (lə·šō·ḏə·ḏîm)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7703: To deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin

are safe,
יִשְׁלָ֤יוּ (yiš·lā·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7951: To be tranquil, secure, successful

and those who provoke
לְמַרְגִּ֣יזֵי (lə·mar·gî·zê)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7264: To be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed

God
אֵ֑ל (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

are secure—
וּֽ֭בַטֻּחוֹת (ū·ḇaṭ·ṭu·ḥō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 987: Security, safety

those who carry
הֵבִ֖יא (hê·ḇî)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

their god
אֱל֣וֹהַּ (’ĕ·lō·w·ah)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 433: God -- a deity, the Deity

in their hands.
בְּיָדֽוֹ׃ (bə·yā·ḏōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand


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OT Poetry: Job 12:6 The tents of robbers prosper (Jb)
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