< Job 26 >
1 And Job answers and says:
Job replied [to Bildad], saying this [sarcastically]:
2 “How you have helped the powerless, Saved an arm not strong!
“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 How you have given counsel to the unwise, And made known wise plans in abundance.
(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 With whom have you declared words? And whose breath came forth from you?
Who helped you to say all those [great/wise] things? Who inspired you to speak like you did?”
5 The Rephaim are formed, Also their inhabitants beneath the waters.
“[Because] the spirits of dead people [are afraid], [they] tremble in the waters that are deep under the earth.
6 Sheol [is] naked before Him, And there is no covering to destruction. (Sheol )
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 )
7 Stretching out the north over desolation, Hanging the earth on nothing,
God stretched out the earth over the huge empty space and caused the earth to have nothing [to support it].
8 Binding up the waters in His thick clouds, And the cloud is not burst under them.
He fills the thick/dense clouds with water and prevents that water from bursting the clouds.
9 Taking hold of the face of the throne, Spreading His cloud over it.
He causes clouds to (obscure/prevent us from seeing) the moon.
10 He has placed a limit on the waters, To the boundary of light with darkness.
He separated the light from the darkness and put the horizon to mark the place where the night ends and the daytime begins.
11 Pillars of the heavens tremble, And they wonder because of His rebuke.
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 He has quieted the sea, And by His understanding struck the proud.
With his power he calmed the sea; with his skill/wisdom he destroyed Rahab, the huge sea monster.
13 He beautified the heavens by His Spirit, His hand has formed the fleeing serpent.
With his breath he caused the sky to be bright/clear; with his hand he killed the great dragon in the sea.
14 Behold, these [are] the borders of His way, and how little a matter is heard of Him, and who understands the thunder of His might?”
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]’”