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Job Reasons with Bildad

26 In reply, Job responded:

“What a help you are to the weak!
    How powerfully you deliver those without strength!
What counsel you provide to the fool!
    What insight you provide so abundantly!
Who helped you say all of this?
    Who inspired you?”

Job Acknowledges God’s Power

“The ghosts of the dead[a] writhe under the waters
    along with those who live there with them.
Sheol[b] is naked before God[c]
    and Abaddon[d] has no clothes.
He spreads out the north over empty space,
    suspending the earth over nothing.

“He restricts the waters within clouds
    and the clouds don’t burst open under them.
He has enclosed the face of the full moon
    and spread his clouds over it.
10 He has delimited a boundary[e] over the surface of the oceans
    as a limit between light and darkness.
11 The pillars of the heavens tremble
    and are astounded at his rebuke.
12 By his power he disturbs the sea;
    and with his skill he shatters the sea monster.[f]
13 He clears the skies with his wind;
    his hands have pierced the fleeing serpent.
14 Indeed, these are the fringes of his ways,
    and how faint is the whisper we’ve heard of it!
        But who can comprehend the thunder of his might?”

Footnotes

  1. Job 26:5 Lit. Rephaim; i.e., souls of the dead
  2. Job 26:6 I.e. the realm of the afterlife
  3. Job 26:6 Lit. him
  4. Job 26:6 I.e. the realm of punishment in the afterlife
  5. Job 26:10 Lit. statute
  6. Job 26:12 Lit. shattered Rahab

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