Job 26
1 Job replied [to Bildad], saying this [sarcastically]:
But 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]
To whom dost thou attach thyself, or whom art thou going to assist? is it not he that [has] much strength, and [he] who has a strong arm?
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]
To whom hast thou given counsel? is it not to him who has all wisdom? whom wilt thou follow? is it not one who has the greatest power?
4 Who helped you to say all those [great/wise] things? Who inspired you to speak like you did?”
To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose breath is it that has come forth from thee?
5 “[Because] the spirits of dead people [are afraid], [they] tremble in the waters that are deep under the earth.
Shall giants be born from under the water and the inhabitants thereof?
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)
Hell is naked before him, and destruction 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 wind upon nothing, and he upon nothing hangs the earth;
8 He fills the thick/dense clouds with water and prevents that water from bursting the clouds.
binding water in his clouds, and the cloud is not rent under it.
9 He causes clouds to (obscure/prevent us from seeing) the moon.
He keeps back the face of his throne, stretching out 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 encompassed the face of the water by an appointed ordinance, until the end 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 are prostrate and astonished at his rebuke.
12 With his power he calmed the sea; with his skill/wisdom he destroyed Rahab, the huge sea monster.
He has calmed the sea with [his] might, and by [his] wisdom the whale has been overthrown.
13 With his breath he caused the sky to be bright/clear; with his hand he killed the great dragon in the sea.
And the barriers of heaven fear him, and by a command he has slain the apostate dragon.
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]’”
Behold, these are parts of his way; and we will hearken to him at the least intimation of his word: but the strength of his thunder who knows, when he shall employ [it]?
