Who is he that hides counsel without knowledge?
therefore have I uttered what I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Read Chapter 42
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Who. Hebrew, "Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? "(Protestants) This seems to allude to the words of God, chap. xxxviii. 2. Each of my friends has only rendered the ways of Providence more obscure, and I myself have not perfectly understood them. (Haydock)
Unwisely. See chap. xxxix. 35. (Worthington) (Du Hamel)
Hebrew, "without knowledge, things wonderful to me, which I knew not. "(Haydock)
Now I comprehend that thou didst not afflict me, but hast given me into the hands of the enemy, as thou wilt hereafter do others of the greatest virtue, that their patience may shine the brighter, and be rewarded. I need inquire no farther, now I see thy design plainly, ver. 5. He does not accuse himself of any sin or false assertion, but acknowledges his infirmity in not having understood this before, ver. 6. (Houbigant)
Septuagint, "I have been told what I knew not, things great and wonderful, of which I was not apprized. "(Haydock)
Who can deny God's providence? (Du Hamel)
For Leviathan hides counsel without knowledge, because, though he is concealed from our infirmity by many frauds, he is yet disclosed to us by the holy inspiration of our Protector. He hides counsel without knowledge, because though he escapes the notice of those who are tempted, yet he cannot escape the notice of the Protector of the tempted. Having heard therefore the power and craft of the devil, having heard also the power of our Creator, which both mightly represses him, and mercifully protects us, we entreat thee, O blessed Job, not to conceal from us that which thou thinkest of thyself. It follows;
Therefore I have spoken foolishly, and things that above measure exceeded my knowledge.
3. All human wisdom, however powerful in acuteness, is foolishness, when compared with Divine wisdom. For all human deeds which are just and beautiful are, when compared with the justice and beauty of God, neither just nor beautiful, nor have any existence at all. Blessed Job therefore would beli...
[Job] openly declares that he had not learned these things before but had come to know the unconquered power of God. And since God penetrates the decisions of people and understands the thoughts of all, there is nobody who can hide from his eye, which sees everything. Who is he, he says, who being sparing of words, can hide the secrets of his mind in silence, because they have not been expressed in words? - "Commentary on Job 42.1–3"
