Job 26

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

Job replied,

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 helpful you have been to this feeble man that I am. How supportive you have been to the weak.

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]

What good advice you have given to this ignorant man, demonstrating you have so much wisdom.

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

Who helped you speak these words? Who inspired you to say such things?

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

The dead tremble, those beneath the waters.

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 lies naked before God, Abaddon is uncovered. (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 the northern sky over empty space; he hangs the world on nothing.

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

He gathers the rain in his storm clouds which do not break under the weight.

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

He veils his throne; covering it with his clouds.

10 He separated the light from the darkness and put the horizon to mark the place where the night ends and the daytime begins.

On the surface of the waters he set a boundary; he set a limit dividing light from 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; they shake with fear at his rebuke.

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

He calmed the sea with his power; because he knew what to do he crushed Rahab.

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

The breath of his voice made the heavens beautiful; with his hand he pierced the gliding 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]’”

This is just a little of all he does—what we hear of him is hardly a whisper, so who can understand his thunderous power?”