Job 26
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Job Replies: God’s Majesty Is Unsearchable
26 Then Job answered:
2 “How you have helped one who has no power!
How you have assisted the arm that has no strength!(A)
3 How you have counseled one who has no wisdom
and given much good advice!
4 With whose help have you uttered words,
and whose spirit has come forth from you?
5 The shades below tremble,
the waters and their inhabitants.
6 Sheol is naked before God,
and Abaddon has no covering.(B)
7 He stretches out Zaphon[a] over the void
and hangs the earth upon nothing.(C)
8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds,
and the cloud is not torn open by them.(D)
9 He covers the face of the full moon
and spreads over it his cloud.(E)
10 He has described a circle on the face of the waters,
at the boundary between light and darkness.(F)
11 The pillars of heaven tremble
and are astounded at his rebuke.
12 By his power he stilled the Sea;
by his understanding he struck down Rahab.(G)
13 By his wind the heavens were made fair;
his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.(H)
14 These are indeed but the outskirts of his ways,
and how small a whisper do we hear of him!
But the thunder of his power who can understand?”(I)
Footnotes
- 26.7 Or the North
Job 26
Common English Bible
Sarcasm
26 Then Job said:
2 How well you have helped the weak,
saved those with frail arms,
3 advised one lacking wisdom,
informed many with insight!
4 With whom have you spoken;[a]
whose breath was expelled from you?
Truth about God
5 The dead writhe,
the inhabitants beneath the waters as well.
6 The grave[b] is naked before God;
the underworld[c] lacks covering.
7 He stretched the North[d] over chaos,
hung earth over nothing;
8 wrapped up water in his clouds,
yet they didn’t burst out below;
9 hid the face of the full moon,[e]
spreading his cloud over it;
10 traced a circle on the water’s surface,
at the limit of light and darkness.
11 Heaven’s pillars shook,
terrified by his blast.
12 By his power he stilled the Sea;
split Rahab with his cleverness.
13 Due to his wind, heaven became clear;
his hand split the fleeing serpent.
14 Look, these are only the outer fringe of his ways;
we hear only a whispered word about him.
Who can understand his thunderous power?
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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