Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? As the mouth by tasting meats selects what pleases it, so the ear tries the words of others, and retains in the mind and memory what is convincing and pleasing. Each chooses according to his taste. The connection with Job 12:12 is in reference to Bildad's appeal to the "ancients" (Job 8:8). You are right in appealing to them, since 'with them was wisdom,' etc. But you select such proverbs of theirs as suit your views, so I may borrow from the same such as suit mine.
Taste his meat - tastes to find its own suitable food-the food which pleases it. As in Job 9:4, etc., Job dwelt on the terrors of God's power in the world of nature, here he dwells on those terrors in His dealings with man. Instead of dwelling on all that is clear, pleasant, and beneficent, he dwells on all that is inexplicable, dark, and terrible.