Job 26
1 Then Job answered, and said:
Job replied [to Bildad], saying this [sarcastically]:
2 Whose helper art thou? is it of him that is weak? and dost thou hold up the arm of him that has no strength?
“I am a very weak and helpless man; and (you [certainly] have not helped me [SAR] very much!/[do you think that] you have helped me [SAR] very much?) [RHQ]
3 To whom hast thou given counsel? perhaps to him that hath no wisdom, and thou hast shewn thy very great prudence.
(You certainly have counseled me well—I, who am not wise at all./[Do you think that] you have counseled me well—I, who am not wise at all?) [RHQ] ([I’m sure you think that] you have given a lot of very good advice to me. [RHQ]
4 Whom hast thou desired to teach? was it not him that made life?
Who helped you to say all those [great/wise] things? Who inspired you to speak like you did?”
5 Behold the giants groan under the waters, and they that dwell with them.
“[Because] the spirits of dead people [are afraid], [they] tremble in the waters that are deep under the earth.
God knows all about [those who are in] the place of the dead; there is nothing down there that prevents God from seeing what is there. (Sheol h7585)
7 He stretched out the north over the empty space, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
God stretched out the earth over the huge empty space and caused the earth to have nothing [to support it].
8 He bindeth up the waters in his clouds, so that they break not out and fall down together.
He fills the thick/dense clouds with water and prevents that water from bursting the clouds.
9 He withholdeth the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud over it.
He causes clouds to (obscure/prevent us from seeing) the moon.
10 He hath set bounds about the waters, till light and darkness come to an end.
He separated the light from the darkness and put the horizon to mark the place where the night ends and the daytime begins.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble, and dread at his beck.
When [he is angry, it is as though] he rebukes the pillars that hold up the sky. They are (shocked/very fearful), and they tremble.
12 By his power the seas are suddenly gathered together, and his wisdom has struck the proud one.
With his power he calmed the sea; with his skill/wisdom he destroyed Rahab, the huge sea monster.
13 His spirit hath adorned the heavens, and his obstetric hand brought forth the winding serpent.
With his breath he caused the sky to be bright/clear; with his hand he killed the great dragon in the sea.
14 Lo, these things are said in part of his ways: and seeing we have heard scarce a little drop of his word, who shall be able to behold the thunder of his greatness?
But those events show only a small amount of his power; [it is as though] we are hearing only whispers of his powerful voice. When we hear thunder, [we say, ] ‘(Who can really understand [how great] his power [is]/No one can [really] understand [how great] his power [is]!) [RHQ]’”
