Job 26
1 Job replied [to Bildad], saying this [sarcastically]:
Then Job answered, and said,
2 “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]
How thou have helped him who is without power! How thou have saved the arm that has no strength!
3 (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]
How thou have counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!
4 Who helped you to say all those [great/wise] things? Who inspired you to speak like you did?”
To whom have thou uttered words? And whose spirit came forth from thee?
5 “[Because] the spirits of dead people [are afraid], [they] tremble in the waters that are deep under the earth.
Those who are deceased tremble beneath the waters and the inhabitants of it.
6 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)
Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering. (Sheol h7585)
7 God stretched out the earth over the huge empty space and caused the earth to have nothing [to support it].
He stretches out the north over empty space, and hangs the earth upon nothing.
8 He fills the thick/dense clouds with water and prevents that water from bursting the clouds.
He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not burst under them.
9 He causes clouds to (obscure/prevent us from seeing) the moon.
He encloses the face of his throne, and spreads his cloud upon it.
10 He separated the light from the darkness and put the horizon to mark the place where the night ends and the daytime begins.
He has described a boundary upon the face of the waters, to the confines of light and darkness.
11 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.
The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his rebuke.
12 With his power he calmed the sea; with his skill/wisdom he destroyed Rahab, the huge sea monster.
He stirs up the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smites through Rahab.
13 With his breath he caused the sky to be bright/clear; with his hand he killed the great dragon in the sea.
By his Spirit the heavens are garnished. His hand has pierced the swift serpent.
14 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]’”
Lo, these are but the periphery of his ways. And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?
