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26 ¶ Job answered and said,

How hast thou helped the one who has no power? Hast thou saved with thy arm the one who has no strength?

How hast thou counselled the one that has no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

To whom hast thou uttered words, and whose is the spirit that comes forth from thee?

¶ Dead things are formed under the waters and of its dwelling places.

Sheol is naked before him, and hell has no covering.

He stretches out the north wind over the empty place and hangs the earth upon nothing.

He binds up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

He holds back the face of his throne and spreads his cloud upon it.

10 He has compassed the waters with bounds until the end of light and darkness.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

12 He divides the sea with his power, and by his intelligence he smites its pride.

13 By his spirit he has adorned the heavens; his hand has formed the fleeing serpent.

14 Behold, these are parts of his ways; but how little a portion have we heard of him? For the thunder of his power, who shall understand?

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