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26 1-2 What a big help you are to me—
    poor, weak man that I am!
You give such good advice
    and share your knowledge with a fool like me!
Who do you think will hear all your words?
    Who inspired you to speak like this?

[Bildad][a]

The spirits of the dead tremble
    in the waters under the earth.
The world of the dead lies open to God;
    no covering shields it from his sight.
God stretched out the northern sky
    and hung the earth in empty space.
It is God who fills the clouds with water
    and keeps them from bursting with the weight.
He hides the full moon behind a cloud.
10 He divided light from darkness
    by a circle drawn on the face of the sea.
11 When he threatens the pillars that hold up the sky,
    they shake and tremble with fear.
12 It is his strength that conquered the sea;[b]
    by his skill he destroyed the monster Rahab.[c]
13 It is his breath that made the sky clear,
    and his hand that killed the escaping monster.[d]
14 But these are only hints of his power,
    only the whispers that we have heard.
Who can know how truly great God is?

Footnotes

  1. Job 26:5 Bildad is not named in the text, but this speech is usually assigned to him.
  2. Job 26:12 A reference to an ancient story in which the sea fought against God.
  3. Job 26:12 See 9.13.
  4. Job 26:13 See 9.8.

Job

26 Then Job replied:

“How you have helped the powerless!(A)
    How you have saved the arm that is feeble!(B)
What advice you have offered to one without wisdom!
    And what great insight(C) you have displayed!
Who has helped you utter these words?
    And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?(D)

“The dead are in deep anguish,(E)
    those beneath the waters and all that live in them.
The realm of the dead(F) is naked before God;
    Destruction[a](G) lies uncovered.(H)
He spreads out the northern skies(I) over empty space;
    he suspends the earth over nothing.(J)
He wraps up the waters(K) in his clouds,(L)
    yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
He covers the face of the full moon,
    spreading his clouds(M) over it.
10 He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters(N)
    for a boundary between light and darkness.(O)
11 The pillars of the heavens quake,(P)
    aghast at his rebuke.
12 By his power he churned up the sea;(Q)
    by his wisdom(R) he cut Rahab(S) to pieces.
13 By his breath the skies(T) became fair;
    his hand pierced the gliding serpent.(U)
14 And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
    how faint the whisper(V) we hear of him!(W)
    Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”(X)

Footnotes

  1. Job 26:6 Hebrew Abaddon