12 But the witless can no more become wise than a wild donkey's colt can be born human.
12 But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born a man!
12 Hollow men, hollow women, will wise up about the same time mules learn to talk. Reach Out to God
12 For an empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey's colt is born a man.
12 An empty-headed person won't become wise any more than a wild donkey can bear a human child.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 11:12
Commentary on Job 11:7-12
(Read Job 11:7-12)
Zophar speaks well concerning God and his greatness and glory, concerning man and his vanity and folly. See here what man is; and let him be humbled. God sees this concerning vain man, that he would be wise, would be thought so, though he is born like a wild ass's colt, so unteachable and untameable. Man is a vain creature; empty, so the word is. Yet he is a proud creature, and self-conceited. He would be wise, would be thought so, though he will not submit to the laws of wisdom. He would be wise, he reaches after forbidden wisdom, and, like his first parents, aiming to be wise above what is written, loses the tree of life for the tree of knowledge. Is such a creature as this fit to contend with God?