Job 26
Job 26 is part of “Third Cycle of Dialogue” (22–31) in the outline of Job.
Job 26 summary
This is Job's short reply to Bildad's short discourse, in which he is so far from contradicting him that he confirms what he had said, and out-does him in magnifying God and setting forth his power, to show what reason he had still to say, as he did (Job 13:2), "What you know, the same do I know also." I. He shows that Bildad's discourse was foreign to the matter he was discoursing of - though very true and good, yet not to the purpose (Job 26:2-4). II.
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This is Job's short reply to Bildad's short discourse, in which he is so far from contradicting him that he confirms what he had said, and out-does him in magnifying God and setting forth his power, to show what reason he had still to say, as he did (Job 13:2), "What you know, the same do I know also." I. He shows that Bildad's discourse was foreign to the matter he was discoursing of - though very true and good, yet not to the purpose (Job 26:2-4). II. That it was needless to the person he was discoursing with; for he knew it, and believed it, and could speak of it as well as he and better, and could add to the proofs which he had produced of God's power and greatness, which he does in the rest of his discourse (Job 26:5-13), concluding that, when they had both said what they could, all came short of the merit of the subject and it was still far from being exhausted (Job 26:14).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Job 26 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
Job's Reply: God's Power and Wisdom
1Then Job answered and said, 2How hast thou helped him that is without power! How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength! 3How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge! 4To whom hast thou uttered words? And whose spirit came forth from thee? 5They that are deceased tremble Beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof. 6Sheol is naked before [God], And Abaddon hath no covering. 7He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing. 8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; And the cloud is not rent under them. 9He incloseth the face of his throne, And spreadeth his cloud upon it. 10He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light and darkness. 11The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his rebuke. 12He stirreth up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab. 13By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent. 14Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?