Job Chapter 26

From The Open Bible Project

26:1 Then Job answered,

26:2 "How have you helped him who is without power! How have you saved the arm that has no strength!

  • (a) You concluded nothing, for neither did you help me while destitute of all help, nor yet speak sufficiently on God�s behalf, who has no need for your defence.
  • (b) But you do not apply it to the purpose.

26:3 How have you counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

26:4 To whom have you uttered words? Whose spirit came forth from you?

  • (c) That is, moves you to speak this?

26:5 "Those who are deceased tremble, those beneath the waters and all that live in them.

  • (d) Job begins to declare the force of God�s power and providence in the mines and metals in the deep places of the earth.

26:6 [10] Sheol [See Job Footnotes 10] is naked before God, and [11] Abaddon [See Job Footnotes 11] has no covering.

  • (e) There is nothing hidden in the bottom of the earth but he sees it.
  • (f) Meaning, the grave in which things putrify.

26:7 He stretches out the north over empty space, and hangs the earth on nothing.

  • (g) He causes the whole earth to turn about the North pole.

26:8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not burst under them.

26:9 He encloses the face of his throne, and spreads his cloud on it.

26:10 He has described a boundary on the surface of the waters, and to the confines of light and darkness.

  • (h) That is, he hid the heavens which are called his throne.
  • (i) So long as this world endures.

26:11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his rebuke.

  • (k) Not that heaven has pillars to uphold it, but he speaks by a similitude as though he would say heaven itself is not able to abide his reproach.

26:12 He stirs up the sea with his power, and by his understanding he strikes through Rahab.

26:13 By his Spirit the heavens are garnished. His hand has pierced the swift serpent.

  • (l) Which is a figure of stars shaped like a serpent, because of the crookedness.

26:14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?"

  • (m) If these few things which we see daily with our eyes, declare his great power and providence, how much more would they appear, if we were to comprehend all his works.