Комментарий к Ийова 12:1

Job pours great scorn (Ezekiel 23:32) on Zophar's philosophical method, that by which he had determined that since we possess knowledge only by reason of our senses as they apprehend the exterior of things, and we do not perceive the reality of things as they are in themselves, it is conceivable that though a person may appear to be righteous according to our sense perception, he is in truth wicked and is deserving of perdition and torment by reference to his inner spiritual essence. Is there anything more ludicrous, asks Job, than that a person who appears to be virtuous in all his acts and beyond suspicion, should be told that he does not really know his own mind or its intrinsic state, in terms of which he may be both wicked, and a sinner, and deserving of misfortunes? (Job 12:5), Is it conceivable that God created man in such an evil and bitter manner (Jeremiah 2:19) for scorn and for ridicule (Ezekiel 23:32); so that his calm and secure thoughts (Amos 6:1) about his righteousness are as a burning torch inside him (Isaiah 62:1) heaping coals of fire (Proverbs 25:22) and mockery on his head? For not knowing his soul (Proverbs 14:9) nor trusting his life (Job 24:22), he is perhaps a criminal and guilty, but does not know it! (Ch.12:3-4).

Similarly, as regards to the central idea of his philosophy, that man does not have a clear perception or knowledge of the reality of things and it might be just the opposite of what he feels it to be. Concerning this, he builds a fortification and rampart (Ezekiel 4:2) and proves that the knowledge humans gain by examination and experience, using their senses, is clear and true knowledge. For we see that everything an individual discerns through his senses and his investigations was also observed by the whole multitude of mankind in every generation. Thus, it is heard in his ears (Job 28:22) through an unbroken tradition, that all human perceptions and knowledge are at one with his knowledge. Hence, his knowledge is plainly clear and true, and as he perceives the natural qualities of things and their actuality, so they are. For it is impossible that misguided imagination has led the whole of mankind astray. (Ch.12:11-12 & 13:1-2)