Job 5 · Verse 13

Job 5:13

He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
Job 5:13, King James Version

Job 5:13 in other translations

BSBHe catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.
WEBHe takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
ASVHe taketh the wise in their own craftiness; And the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
YLTCapturing the wise in their subtilty, And the counsel of wrestling ones was hastened,
DARBYHe taketh the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the wily is carried headlong:
BBEHe takes the wise in their secret designs, and the purposes of the twisted are cut off suddenly.
WebsterHe taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

What does Job 5:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. Paul (1Co 3:19) quoted this clause with the formula establishing its inspiration, "it is written." He cites the exact Hebrew words, not as he usually does the Septuagint, Greek version (Psa 9:15). Haman was hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai (Es 5:14; 7:10). the wise--that is, "the cunning." is carried headlong--Their scheme is precipitated before it is ripe.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness - So counterworks them as to cause their feet to be taken in their own snares, and their evil dealings to fall on their own pate. Such frequent proofs has God given of his especial interference in behalf of the innocent, who have been the objects of the plots and evil designs of the wicked, by turning those evil devices against their framers, that he who digs a pit for his neighbor shall fall into it himself has become a universal adage, and has passed, either in so many words or in sense, into all the languages of all the people of the earth. Lucretius expresses it strongly: Circumretit enim vis atque injuria quemque, Atque, unde exorta est, ad eum plerumque revortit. Lucret. lib. v., ver. 1151. "For force and wrong entangle the man that uses them; And, for the most part, recoil on the head of the contriver."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 5:6-16

Eliphaz reminds Job, that no affliction comes by chance, nor is to be placed to second causes. The difference between prosperity and adversity is not so exactly observed, as that between day and night, summer and winter; but it is according to the will and counsel of God. We must not attribute our afflictions to fortune, for they are from God; nor our sins to fate, for they are from ourselves. Man is born in sin…

Read the full comment on Job 5:6-16 →

Job 5:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לֹכֵ֣דlo.Khed[who] catchesH3920
חֲכָמִ֣יםcha.kha.Mimwise [people]H2450
בְּעָרְמָ֑םbe.'a.re.Mamwhen are crafty theyH6191
וַעֲצַ֖תva.'a.Tzatand [the] counsel ofH6098
נִפְתָּלִ֣יםnif.ta.Limtortuous [people]H6617
נִמְהָֽרָה\׃nim.Ha.rahit is hastyH4116

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 5:13

  • 1 Corinthians 3:19

    For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

  • Psalms 9:15-16

    The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

  • Psalms 7:15-16

    He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

  • Luke 1:51

    He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:19-20

    For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  • Psalms 35:7-8

    For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

  • Esther 9:25

    But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

  • Psalms 18:26

    With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

  • Esther 7:10

    So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.

  • 2 Samuel 15:31

    And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

  • Proverbs 3:32

    For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

  • 2 Samuel 15:34

    But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
taketh.
2Sa 15:31,34; 17:23; Es 6:4-11; 7:10; 9:25; Ps 7:15,16; 9:15,16
Ps 35:7,8; Lu 1:51; 1Co 1:19,20
of the froword.
Ps 18:26; Pr 3:32

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 5:12

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

  • Job 5:13

    He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

  • Job 5:14

    They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.

Read all of Job 5

Job 5:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Que prende á los sabios en la astucia de ellos, y el consejo de los perversos es entontecido;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Il prend les sages dans leur ruse, et le conseil des astucieux est précipité:
German
Elberfelder 1871
der die Weisen erhascht in ihrer List, und der Verschmitzten Rat überstürzt sich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
qui apprehendit sapientes in astutia eorum, et consilium pravorum dissipat.