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. 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).

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 How hast thou helped him that is without power! How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!

3 How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge!

4 To whom hast thou uttered words? And whose spirit came forth from thee?

5 They that are deceased tremble Beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.

6 Sheol is naked before [God], And Abaddon hath no covering.

7 He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.

8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; And the cloud is not rent under them.

9 He incloseth the face of his throne, And spreadeth his cloud upon it.

10 He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light and darkness.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his rebuke.

12 He stirreth up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab.

13 By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent.

14 Lo, 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?