Job 26

Job's answer about God's power

Job counters that Bildad has helped him little. He describes God's power over earth, stretching the north, binding waters in thick clouds, and hiding the crooked serpent by his spirit.

14 verses. The 26th of 42 chapters in Job, in Poetry and Wisdom.

1But Job answered and said,

2How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?

3How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

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

5Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.

6Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

7He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

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

9He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.

10He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

11The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

12He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

13By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

14Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

Matthew Henry on Job 26

2,928 words, in 2 passages.

  1. Verses 1–4Job's Reproof of Bildad. (b. c. 1520.)
  2. Verses 5–14The Wisdom and Power of God. (b. c. 1520.)

King James Version. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.