Job 26

1 Job replied [to Bildad], saying this [sarcastically]:

Then Job responded by saying:

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]

Whose assistant are you? Is he weak-minded? And do you sustain the arm of him that is not strong?

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 have you given advice? Perhaps it is to him that has no wisdom or prudence that you have revealed your many ideas.

4 Who helped you to say all those [great/wise] things? Who inspired you to speak like you did?”

Who is it that you wanted to teach? Was it not him that created the breath of life?

5 “[Because] the spirits of dead people [are afraid], [they] tremble in the waters that are deep under the earth.

Behold, giant things groan under the waters, and they dwell with them.

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)

The underworld is naked before him, and there is no covering for perdition. (Sheol h7585)

7 God stretched out the earth over the huge empty space and caused the earth to have nothing [to support it].

He stretched out the North over emptiness, and he suspended the land over nothing.

8 He fills the thick/dense clouds with water and prevents that water from bursting the clouds.

He secures the waters in his clouds, so that they do not burst forth downward all at once.

9 He causes clouds to (obscure/prevent us from seeing) the moon.

He holds back the face of his throne, and he stretches his cloud over 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 set limits around the waters, until light and darkness shall reach their limit.

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 frightened at his nod.

12 With his power he calmed the sea; with his skill/wisdom he destroyed Rahab, the huge sea monster.

By his strength, the seas suddenly gather together, and his foresight has struck the arrogant.

13 With his breath he caused the sky to be bright/clear; with his hand he killed the great dragon in the sea.

His spirit has adorned the heavens, and his birthing hand has brought forth the winding 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]’”

Behold, these things have been said about his ways in part, and, since we barely have heard a small drop of his word, who will be able to gaze upon the thunder of his greatness?