4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
4 "I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God and he answered- a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!
4 I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.
4 "I'm ridiculed by my friends: 'So that's the man who had conversations with God!' Ridiculed without mercy: 'Look at the man who never did wrong!'
4 "I am one mocked by his friends, Who called on God, and He answered him, The just and blameless who is ridiculed.
4 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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 12:4
Commentary on Job 12:1-5
(Read Job 12:1-5)
Job upbraids his friends with the good opinion they had of their own wisdom compared with his. We are apt to call reproofs reproaches, and to think ourselves mocked when advised and admonished; this is our folly; yet here was colour for this charge. He suspected the true cause of their conduct to be, that they despised him who was fallen into poverty. It is the way of the world. Even the just, upright man, if he comes under a cloud, is looked upon with contempt.