For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.
The saying belongs to the extended dispute over suffering between Job and his three friends, a debate that runs from chapter 4 through chapter 31 and unfolds in three rounds of speeches. As the declaration of one of those friends, it is not automatically reliable but must be tested against the rest of Scripture, since some of their claims contradict inspired teaching and are true only insofar as they agree with it.
Empty, vain human beings presume to be wise by their own judgment even though they are born untamed like a young wild ass. In its setting this exposes that God knows human vanity and wickedness, while His greatness cannot be measured or judged by human reason. Self-importance does not make such a vain aspirant wise, but causes wise and holy people to think less of him.
Left to themselves, children stray from birth like the untamed young animal in the saying. Parents therefore ought to restrain them rather than let them wander without guidance. That restraint includes holding them back from wicked companions.
The saying belongs to the extended dispute over suffering between Job and his three friends, a debate that runs from chapter 4 through chapter 31 and unfolds in three rounds of speeches. As the declaration of one of those friends, it is not automatically reliable but must be tested against the rest of Scripture, since some of their claims contradict inspired teaching and are true only insofar as they agree with it.
Empty, vain human beings presume to be wise by their own judgment even though they are born untamed like a young wild ass. In its setting this exposes that God knows human vanity and wickedness, while His greatness cannot be measured or judged by human reason. Self-importance does not make such a vain aspirant wise, but causes wise and holy people to think less of him.
Left to themselves, children stray from birth like the untamed young animal in the saying. Parents therefore ought to restrain them rather than let them wander without guidance. That restraint includes holding them back from wicked companions.