Job 26
Expanded Bible
Job Answers Bildad
26 Then Job answered:
2 “You are no help to the ·helpless [powerless]!
You have not ·aided [rescued] the ·weak [L weak armed]!
3 ·Your advice lacks wisdom [or You have brought no counsel to those without wisdom]!
You have shown little understanding!
4 ·Who has helped you say these words [L Whose words do you speak]?
And ·where did you get these ideas [L whose breath comes from you]?
5 “The ·spirits of the dead [shades; L Rephaim; C departed ancestors] tremble,
·those who are beneath and in the waters [L the waters and their inhabitants are terrified; C symbol for the forces of evil].
6 ·Death [L The grave; Sheol] ·is naked [lies exposed] before God;
·destruction [Abaddon; C the underworld] is uncovered before him [C God is in control of them].
7 God stretches ·the northern sky [or Zaphon; C a reference to Baal’s mountain; indicating God’s control over it] out over empty space
and hangs the earth on nothing.
8 He wraps up the waters in his thick clouds,
but the clouds do not ·break under their weight [L burst under them].
9 He covers the face of the ·moon [or throne],
spreading his clouds over it.
10 He draws the horizon like a circle on the water
at the place where light and darkness meet.
11 ·Heaven’s foundations [L The pillars of heavens; C perhaps mountains] ·shake [quake]
·when he thunders at them [L astounded by his rebuke/blast].
12 With his power he ·quiets [stills] the ·sea [or Sea; C the powers of chaos];
by his ·wisdom [understanding] he ·destroys [struck] Rahab, the sea monster [9:13].
13 He breathes, and ·the sky clears [L he makes the heavens beautiful].
His hand ·stabs [slays] the fleeing ·snake [serpent; C Leviathan, another sea monster representing chaos; 3:8; Is. 27:1].
14 And these are ·only a small part of God’s works [L fringes of his way].
We only hear a small whisper of him.
Who could understand God’s thundering power?”
Job 26
New International Version
Job
26 Then Job replied:
2 “How you have helped the powerless!(A)
How you have saved the arm that is feeble!(B)
3 What advice you have offered to one without wisdom!
And what great insight(C) you have displayed!
4 Who has helped you utter these words?
And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?(D)
5 “The dead are in deep anguish,(E)
those beneath the waters and all that live in them.
6 The realm of the dead(F) is naked before God;
Destruction[a](G) lies uncovered.(H)
7 He spreads out the northern skies(I) over empty space;
he suspends the earth over nothing.(J)
8 He wraps up the waters(K) in his clouds,(L)
yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
9 He covers the face of the full moon,
spreading his clouds(M) over it.
10 He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters(N)
for a boundary between light and darkness.(O)
11 The pillars of the heavens quake,(P)
aghast at his rebuke.
12 By his power he churned up the sea;(Q)
by his wisdom(R) he cut Rahab(S) to pieces.
13 By his breath the skies(T) became fair;
his hand pierced the gliding serpent.(U)
14 And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
how faint the whisper(V) we hear of him!(W)
Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”(X)
Footnotes
- Job 26:6 Hebrew Abaddon
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