Job 26

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

And Job answereth and saith: —

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]

What — thou hast helped the powerless, Saved an arm 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]

What — thou hast given counsel to the unwise, And wise plans in abundance made known.

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

With whom hast thou declared words? And whose breath came forth from thee?

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

The Rephaim are formed, Beneath the waters, also their inhabitants.

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)

Naked [is] Sheol over-against Him, And there is no covering to destruction. (Sheol h7585)

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

Stretching out the north over desolation, Hanging the earth upon nothing,

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

Binding up the waters in His thick clouds, And the cloud is not rent under them.

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

Taking hold of the face of the throne, Spreading over it His cloud.

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

A limit He hath placed on the waters, Unto the boundary of light with 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.

Pillars of the heavens do tremble, And they wonder because of His rebuke.

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

By His power He hath quieted the sea, And by His understanding smitten the proud.

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 He beautified, Formed hath His hand the fleeing 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] the borders of His way, And how little a matter is heard of Him, And the thunder of His might Who doth understand?