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Job Answers Bildad

26 Then Job answered:

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

“The ghosts and their neighbors
    in the underworld[b] shake with fear.
But God can see clearly into that place of death.
    Death[c] is not hidden from God.
God stretched the northern sky over empty space.
    He hung the earth on nothing.
He fills the thick clouds with water.
    But he does not let its heavy weight break the clouds open.
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.

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