(KJV) Job 261

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Job: Who Can Understand God’s Majesty?

[1] But Job answered and said, [2] How hast thou2 helped3 [him that is] without power? [how] savest thou the arm [that hath] no strength? [3] How hast thou counselled4 [him that hath] no wisdom? and [how] hast thou plentifully5 declared the thing as it is? [4] To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit6 came from thee? [5] Dead [things7] are formed from under the waters, and8 the inhabitants thereof. [6] Hell9 [is] naked before him, and destruction10 hath no covering. [7] He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, [and] hangeth the earth upon nothing.11 [8] He bindeth up12 the waters in his thick clouds13; and the cloud14 is not rent under them. [9] He holdeth back the face of his throne, [and] spreadeth his cloud upon it.15 [10] He hath compassed16 the waters with bounds, until17 the day and night come to an end18. [11] The pillars19 of heaven tremble and are astonished20 at his reproof. [12] He divideth21 the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth22 through the proud23. [13] By his spirit24 he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent25. [14] Lo, these [are] parts of his ways: but how little26 a portion is heard of him? but the thunder27 of his power who can understand?

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  1. Job 26:1, Job, reproving the uncharitable spirit of Bildad, Job 26:5, acknowledges the power of God to be infinite and unsearchable. 

  2. Bildad had produced no argument to refute Job's doctrine; and therefore Job ironically admires the assistance which Bildad had given to his friends in their extremity, and the instruction he had afforded him in his perplexity. Job 12:2; 1Kgs 18:27 

  3. Job 4:3-4, Job 6:25, Job 16:4-5; Isa 35:3-4, Isa 40:14, Isa 41:5-7 

  4. Job 6:13, Job 12:3, Job 13:5, Job 15:8-10, Job 17:10, Job 32:11-13 

  5. Job 33:3, Job 33:33, Job 38:2; Ps 49:1-4, Ps 71:15-18; Prov 8:6-9; Acts 20:20, Acts 20:27 

  6. Job 20:3, Job 32:18; 1Kgs 22:23-24; Eccl 12:7; 1Cor 12:3; 1John 4:1-3; Rev 16:13-14 

  7. Or, "The giants rephaim are in anguish under the waters and their inhabitants;" probably in allusion to the destruction of the earth by the deluge. Job 41:1-34; Gen 6:4; Ps 104:25-26; Ezek 29:3-5 

  8. or, with 

  9. Job 11:8; Ps 139:8, Ps 139:11; Prov 15:11; Isa 14:9; Amos 9:2; Heb 4:13 

  10. Job 28:22; Ps 88:10 

  11. Job 9:8; Gen 1:1-2; Ps 24:2, Ps 104:2-5; Prov 8:23-27; Isa 40:22, Isa 40:26, Isa 42:5 

  12. Job 36:29, Job 38:9, Job 38:37; Gen 1:6-7; Ps 135:7; Prov 30:4; Jer 10:13 

  13. Job 37:11-16; Ps 18:10-11 

  14. Isa 5:6 

  15. Exod 20:21, Exod 33:20-23, Exod 34:3; 1Kgs 8:12; Ps 97:2; Hab 3:3-5; 1Tim 6:16 

  16. Job 38:8-11; Ps 33:7, Ps 104:6-9; Prov 8:29; Jer 5:22 

  17. Gen 8:22; Isa 54:9-10 

  18. Heb. end of light with darkness 

  19. 1Sam 2:8; Ps 18:7; Hag 2:21; Heb 12:26-27; 2Pet 3:10; Rev 20:11 

  20. Job 15:15 

  21. Exod 14:21-31; Ps 29:10, Ps 74:13, Ps 93:3-4, Ps 114:2-7; Isa 51:15; Jer 31:35 

  22. Job 40:11-12; Isa 2:12; Dan 4:37; Jas 4:6 

  23. Heb. pride, Ps 89:9-10; Isa 51:9 

  24. Gen 1:2; Ps 33:6-7, Ps 104:30 

  25. Ps 74:13-14; Isa 27:1; Rev 12:9 

  26. Job 11:7-9; Ps 139:6, Ps 145:3; Isa 40:26-29; Rom 11:33; 1Cor 13:9-12 

  27. Job 40:9; 1Sam 2:10; Ps 29:3