With God are wisdom and might: the Hebrew text has “with him,” where “him” can refer only to God and not to the old men in verse 12. Wisdom translates the same noun used in verse 11. The contrast between verses 12 and 13 is that God has both wisdom and might, while people have only wisdom. Might translates a word meaning “power, strength, force.” The same word occurs in 26.14, “the thunder of his power.” It is God’s might that enables him to carry out his will. In translation it may be necessary to mark the contrast between people and God by saying, for example, “On the other hand, God has both wisdom and power,” “But God who has wisdom also has power,” or “God is both wise and powerful.”

He has counsel and understanding: Isaiah 28.29 expresses the same idea with “he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.” Counsel here does not mean giving advice but rather devising plans, thinking ahead, having insight. Understanding is the same word as used in verse 12b.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .