Job 26:3
 Job 26:3 
New International Version (©2011)
What advice you have offered to one without wisdom! And what great insight you have displayed!

New Living Translation (©2007)
How you have enlightened my stupidity! What wise advice you have offered!

English Standard Version (©2001)
How you have counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"What counsel you have given to one without wisdom! What helpful insight you have abundantly provided!

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
How you have counseled the unwise and thoroughly explained the path to success!

International Standard Version (©2012)
What counsel you provide to the fool! What insight you provide so abundantly!

NET Bible (©2006)
How you have advised the one without wisdom, and abundantly revealed your insight!

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
You have advised the person who has no wisdom and offered so much assistance.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
How have you counseled him that has no wisdom? and how have you plentifully declared the thing as it is?

American King James Version
How have you counceled him that has no wisdom? and how have you plentifully declared the thing as it is?

American Standard Version
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge!

Douay-Rheims Bible
To whom hast thou given counsel? perhaps to him that hath no wisdom, and thou hast shewn thy very great prudence.

Darby Bible Translation
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, and abundantly declared the thing as it is!

English Revised Version
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

Webster's Bible Translation
How hast thou counseled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou abundantly declared the thing as it is?

World English Bible
How have you counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

Young's Literal Translation
What -- thou hast given counsel to the unwise, And wise plans in abundance made known.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

26:1-4 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.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? What counsel or advice is there in anything that thou hast said, by following which I might be benefited? Admitting my own want of wisdom, how hast thou bettered my case? And how hast thou plenteously declared the thing as it is? rather, How hast thou plenteously declared sound knowledge? What can there be said to have been in the way of sound knowledge, or good practical common sense (חוּשִׁיָה), in the discourse which thou hast addressed to me? - a discourse made up of truisms.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom?.... A man deprived of wisdom has need of counsel, and it should be given him; and he does well both to ask and take it; and be it so, as if Job should say, that I am the foolish and unwise creature you take me to be, what counsel and advice have you given me? what a wise counsellor have you shown yourself to be? or rather, what a miserable part have you acted under this character?

and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? the thing in controversy, set it forth in a clear light, and in a copious manner, when he had not said one word about it, namely, concerning the afflictions of the godly, and the prosperity of the wicked; thus jeering at him, and laughing at the short reply he had made, and which was nothing to the purpose.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3. plentifully … the thing as it is—rather, "abundantly—wisdom." Bildad had made great pretensions to abundant wisdom. How has he shown it?


Job 26:3 Parallel Commentaries

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Job: who Can Understand God's Majesty
1But Job answered and said, 2How have you helped him that is without power? how save you the arm that has no strength? 3How have you counceled him that has no wisdom? and how have you plentifully declared the thing as it is?

Job 6:13 Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?
Job 26:2 "How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the arm that is feeble!
Job 26:4 Who has helped you utter these words? And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?