John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 12:8
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee ,.... Or ask "a sprig of the earth" F14 שיח לארץ "virgultum terrae", Pagninus, Schmidt; so Drusius and Michaelis. , any shrub, or tree, or whatsoever grows out of it, and they will all unite in this doctrine, that they are raised and preserved by the power of God, and are so many instances of his wisdom, power, and goodness: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee ; as mute as they are, they will proclaim this truth, that... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 12:6-11
Job's friends all of them went upon this principle, that wicked people cannot prosper long in this world, but some remarkable judgment or other will suddenly light on them: Zophar had concluded with it, that the eyes of the wicked shall fail, Job 11:20. This principle Job here opposes, and maintains that God, in disposing men's outward affairs, acts as a sovereign, reserving the exact distribution of rewards and punishments for the future state. I. He asserts it as an undoubted truth that... read more