Matthew Henry Commentary Job 12:1-5

"Then Job answered and said, No doubt but ye are the people, And wisdom shall die with you. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: Yea, who knoweth not such things as these? I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock. In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; It is ready for them whose foot slippeth." — Job 12:1-5 (ASV)

Job rebukes his friends for the high opinion they had of their own wisdom compared to his. We are prone to interpret rebukes as criticisms and to think ourselves mocked when advised and warned. This is our foolishness; yet, in this instance, there was some justification for Job's charge.

He suspected the true reason for their conduct was that they despised him because he had fallen into poverty. This is the way of the world. Even the just, upright man, if he comes under a cloud, is looked upon with contempt.