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Job 26

Job replies to Bildad [ a ]

26 Then Job replied. This is what he said:

2 ‘Do not think that you have helped me,
a weak and helpless man.
Nothing that you have said makes me feel stronger.
3 What good advice have you given me
to make me wise?
You have not really shown me how clever you are!
4 Someone must have helped you to say these wise words.
Who has put all these thoughts in your minds?

5 Dead people shake with fear.
They are under the deep waters.
6 God sees everything that happens
in the place of dead people.
Nothing can hide that terrible place from him.
7 He puts the skies in their place in the north,
so that they cover empty space.
He hangs the earth in the skies
and it stays there.
8 He fills the clouds with water.
They become heavy but they do not break.
9 When the moon is big and round, he hides it.
He causes clouds to cover it.
10 He marks the border between the sea and the sky.
It is the place where the night finishes and the day begins.
11 When God is angry,
he shouts at the pillars under the sky.
When they hear his command,
they shake with fear.
12 He used his power to control the sea.
He used his wisdom to destroy Rahab,
the great sea monster.
13 He used his breath to make the sky become bright.
With his hand he cut the great sea snake
as it ran away.
14 These are only a few of the things that God does.
We only know about a few small things.
If he used all of his power,
we could never understand.’

Footnotes

  1. 26:1 In chapters 26 and 27, Job says two things. First, he does not agree with the things that his friends have said, see Job 27:5 . Second, he is sure that he has never done wrong things, see Job 27:6 .

Job Answers Bildad

26 Then Job answered:

2 “Bildad, what a great help you are to this tired, weary man!
You have really supported me!
3 You have given such wonderful advice to this foolish man!
You have provided so much useful information! [ a ]
4 Who helped you say these things?
Whose spirit inspired you to speak?

5 “The ghosts and their neighbors
in the underworld [ b ] shake with fear.
6 But God can see clearly into that place of death.
Death [ c ] is not hidden from God.
7 God stretched the northern sky over empty space.
He hung the earth on nothing.
8 He fills the thick clouds with water.
But he does not let its heavy weight break the clouds open.
9 He covers the face of the full moon.
He spreads his clouds over it and hides it.
10 He drew the horizon on the ocean,
like a circle where light and darkness meet.
11 The foundations that hold up the sky
shake with fear when God threatens them.
12 With his own power God calmed the sea.
With his wisdom he destroyed Rahab.
13 His breath made the skies clear.
His hand destroyed the snake that tried to get away. [ d ]
14 These are only a few of the amazing things God has done.
We hear only a small whisper of God’s thundering power.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 26:3 Job is being sarcastic here—showing by the way he speaks that he does not really mean it.
  2. Job 26:5 The ghosts … underworld Literally, “The ghosts under the water.” This refers to Sheol, the place of death.
  3. Job 26:6 Death Or “Abaddon,” a Hebrew name meaning “death” or “destruction.” See Rev. 9:11.
  4. Job 26:13 snake … get away Or “the escaping monster.” This might be another name for Rahab. See Isa. 27:1.

26 But Job answered and said,

2 How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?

3 How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

4 To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?

5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.

6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

9 He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.

10 He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

12 He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

Job Rebukes Bildad

26 Then Job responded,

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

The Greatness of God

5 “The [ d ] ( C ) departed spirits are made to tremble
Under the waters and their inhabitants.
6 [ e ] ( D ) Sheol is naked before Him,
And [ f ] ( E ) Abaddon has no covering.
7 He ( F ) stretches out the north over empty space
And hangs the earth on nothing.
8 He ( G ) wraps up the waters in His clouds,
And the cloud does not burst under them.
9 He [ g ] ( H ) obscures the face of the [ h ] 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 With His power He ( K ) quieted the sea,
And by His ( L ) understanding He shattered [ i ] ( 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 26:2 Lit no strength
  2. Job 26:3 Lit made known
  3. Job 26:4 Lit breath has gone forth
  4. Job 26:5 Or shades ; Heb Rephaim
  5. Job 26:6 I.e., the netherworld
  6. Job 26:6 I.e., the place of destruction
  7. Job 26:9 Lit covers
  8. Job 26:9 Or throne
  9. Job 26:12 I.e., a sea monster, not to be confused with Rahab in Joshua 2
  10. Job 26:13 Lit beauty

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

  1. Job 26:6 Hebrew Abaddon
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