Job 25-26
New International Version
Bildad
25 Then Bildad the Shuhite(A) replied:
2 “Dominion and awe belong to God;(B)
he establishes order in the heights of heaven.(C)
3 Can his forces be numbered?
On whom does his light not rise?(D)
4 How then can a mortal be righteous before God?
How can one born of woman be pure?(E)
5 If even the moon(F) is not bright
and the stars are not pure in his eyes,(G)
6 how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot—
a human being,(H) who is only a worm!”(I)
Job
26 Then Job replied:
2 “How you have helped the powerless!(J)
How you have saved the arm that is feeble!(K)
3 What advice you have offered to one without wisdom!
And what great insight(L) you have displayed!
4 Who has helped you utter these words?
And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?(M)
5 “The dead are in deep anguish,(N)
those beneath the waters and all that live in them.
6 The realm of the dead(O) is naked before God;
Destruction[a](P) lies uncovered.(Q)
7 He spreads out the northern skies(R) over empty space;
he suspends the earth over nothing.(S)
8 He wraps up the waters(T) in his clouds,(U)
yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
9 He covers the face of the full moon,
spreading his clouds(V) over it.
10 He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters(W)
for a boundary between light and darkness.(X)
11 The pillars of the heavens quake,(Y)
aghast at his rebuke.
12 By his power he churned up the sea;(Z)
by his wisdom(AA) he cut Rahab(AB) to pieces.
13 By his breath the skies(AC) became fair;
his hand pierced the gliding serpent.(AD)
14 And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
how faint the whisper(AE) we hear of him!(AF)
Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”(AG)
Footnotes
- Job 26:6 Hebrew Abaddon
Job 25-26
King James Version
25 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.
3 Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?
4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.
6 How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
26 But Job answered and said,
2 How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
3 How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
4 To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
9 He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
10 He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
12 He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
Job 25-26
English Standard Version
Bildad Speaks: Man Cannot Be Righteous
25 Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “Dominion and fear are with God;[a]
he makes peace in his high heaven.
3 Is there any number to his (B)armies?
Upon whom does his (C)light not arise?
4 How then can man be (D)in the right before God?
How can he who is (E)born of woman be (F)pure?
5 Behold, even the moon is not bright,
and the stars are not pure in his eyes;
6 (G)how much less man, who is (H)a maggot,
and (I)the son of man, who is a worm!”
Job Replies: God's Majesty Is Unsearchable
26 Then Job answered and said:
2 “How you have (J)helped him who has no power!
How you have saved (K)the arm that has no strength!
3 How you have (L)counseled him who has no wisdom,
and plentifully declared sound knowledge!
4 With whose help have you uttered words,
and whose breath (M)has come out from you?
5 The (N)dead tremble
under the waters and their inhabitants.
6 Sheol is (O)naked before God,[b]
and (P)Abaddon has no covering.
7 He (Q)stretches out the north over (R)the void
and hangs the earth on nothing.
8 He (S)binds up the waters in his thick clouds,
and the cloud is not split open under them.
9 He covers the face of the full moon[c]
and (T)spreads over it his cloud.
10 He has inscribed (U)a circle on the face of the waters
at the boundary between light and darkness.
11 (V)The pillars of heaven tremble
and are astounded at his (W)rebuke.
12 By his power he (X)stilled the sea;
by his understanding he shattered (Y)Rahab.
13 (Z)By his wind the heavens were made fair;
his hand pierced (AA)the fleeing serpent.
14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his (AB)ways,
and how small (AC)a whisper do we hear of him!
But the thunder of his power who can understand?”
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