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1 But Iob answered and sayd,

2 Howe hast thou helped him that is without power? how sauest thou the arme that hath no strength?

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

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

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

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

7 He stretcheth out the North ouer the emptie place, and hangeth the earth vpon nothing.

8 Hee bindeth vp the waters in his thicke clouds, and the cloud is not rent vnder them.

9 Hee holdeth backe the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud vpon it.

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

11 The pillars of heauen tremble, and are astonished at his reproofe.

12 Hee diuideth the sea with his power, and by his vnderstanding he smiteth through the proud.

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

14 Loe, these are parts of his waies, but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can vnderstand?

Viewing the original 1611 KJV with archaic English spelling
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Commentary for Job 26

Job reproves Bildad. (1-4) Job acknowledges the power of God. (5-14)1-4 Job derided Bildad's answer; his words were a mixture of peevishness and self-preference. Bildad ought to have laid before Job the consolations, rather than the terrors of the Almighty. Christ knows how to speak what is proper for the weary, #Isa 50:4|; and his ministers should not grieve those whom God would not have made sad. We are often disappointed in our expectations from our friends who should comfort us; but the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, never mistakes, nor fails of his end.

5-14 Many striking instances are here given of the wisdom and power of God, in the creation and preservation of the world. If we look about us, to the earth and waters here below, we see his almighty power. If we consider hell beneath, though out of our sight, yet we may conceive the discoveries of God's power there. If we look up to heaven above, we see displays of God's almighty power. By his Spirit, the eternal Spirit that moved upon the face of the waters, the breath of his mouth, #Ps 33:6|, he has not only made the heavens, but beautified them. By redemption, all the other wonderful works of the Lord are eclipsed; and we may draw near, and taste his grace, learn to love him, and walk with delight in his ways. The ground of the controversy between Job and the other disputants was, that they unjustly thought from his afflictions that he must have been guilty of heinous crimes. They appear not to have duly considered the evil and just desert of original sin; nor did they take into account the gracious designs of God in purifying his people. Job also darkened counsel by words without knowledge. But his views were more distinct. He does not appear to have alleged his personal righteousness as the ground of his hope towards God. Yet what he admitted in a general view of his case, he in effect denied, while he complained of his sufferings as unmerited and severe; that very complaint proving the necessity for their being sent, in order to his being further humbled in the sight of God.

Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.

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