Job Rebukes Bildad

26 Then Job [a]responded,

“What a help you are to [b](A)the weak!
How you have saved the arm (B)without strength!
“What counsel you have given to one without wisdom!
What helpful insight you have abundantly [c]provided!
“To whom have you uttered words?
And whose [d]spirit was expressed through you?

The Greatness of God

“The [e](C)departed spirits tremble
Under the waters and their inhabitants.
“Naked is [f](D)Sheol before Him,
And [g](E)Abaddon has no covering.
“He (F)stretches out the north over empty space
And hangs the earth on nothing.
“He (G)wraps up the waters in His clouds,
And the cloud does not burst under them.
“He [h](H)obscures the face of the [i]full moon
And spreads His cloud over it.
10 “He has inscribed a (I)circle on the surface of the waters
At the (J)boundary of light and darkness.
11 “The pillars of heaven tremble
And are amazed at His rebuke.
12 “He (K)quieted the sea with His power,
And by His (L)understanding He shattered (M)Rahab.
13 “By His breath the (N)heavens are [j]cleared;
His hand has pierced (O)the fleeing serpent.
14 “Behold, these are the fringes of His ways;
And how faint (P)a word we hear of Him!
But His mighty (Q)thunder, who can understand?”

Footnotes

  1. Job 26:1 Lit responded and said
  2. Job 26:2 Lit no power
  3. Job 26:3 Lit made known
  4. Job 26:4 Lit breath has gone forth
  5. Job 26:5 Or shades; Heb Rephaim
  6. Job 26:6 I.e. the nether world
  7. Job 26:6 I.e. place of destruction
  8. Job 26:9 Lit covers
  9. Job 26:9 Or throne
  10. Job 26:13 Lit made beautiful

Job

26 Then Job replied:

“How you have helped the powerless!(A)
    How you have saved the arm that is feeble!(B)
What advice you have offered to one without wisdom!
    And what great insight(C) you have displayed!
Who has helped you utter these words?
    And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?(D)

“The dead are in deep anguish,(E)
    those beneath the waters and all that live in them.
The realm of the dead(F) is naked before God;
    Destruction[a](G) lies uncovered.(H)
He spreads out the northern skies(I) over empty space;
    he suspends the earth over nothing.(J)
He wraps up the waters(K) in his clouds,(L)
    yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
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

  1. Job 26:6 Hebrew Abaddon