Add parallel Print Page Options

Job Replies: God’s Majesty Is Unsearchable

26 But Job answered:

“How have you helped him who is without power?
    How have you saved the arm that has no strength?
How have you counseled him who has no wisdom?
    And how have you plentifully declared sound knowledge?
To whom have you uttered words?
    And whose breath came from you?

“The departed spirits tremble under the waters,
    and their inhabitants.
The underworld is naked before Him,
    and destruction has no covering.
He stretches out the north over empty space,
    He hangs the earth upon nothing.
He binds up the waters in His thick clouds,
    and the cloud is not broken under them.
He covers the face of the full moon
    and spreads His cloud over it.
10 He has circled the waters with boundaries,
    until the day and night come to an end.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble
    and are astonished at His reproof.
12 He divides the sea with His power,
    and by His understanding He strikes through the proud.
13 By His breath He has made fair the heavens;
    His hand has formed the fleeing serpent.
14 Indeed, these are but a part of His ways,
    and how small a whisper we hear of Him!
    But the thunder of His power who can understand?”

Job Replies: God's Majesty Is Unsearchable

26 Then Job answered and said:

“How you have (A)helped him who has no power!
    How you have saved (B)the arm that has no strength!
How you have (C)counseled him who has no wisdom,
    and plentifully declared sound knowledge!
With whose help have you uttered words,
    and whose breath (D)has come out from you?
The (E)dead tremble
    under the waters and their inhabitants.
Sheol is (F)naked before God,[a]
    and (G)Abaddon has no covering.
He (H)stretches out the north over (I)the void
    and hangs the earth on nothing.
He (J)binds up the waters in his thick clouds,
    and the cloud is not split open under them.
He covers the face of the full moon[b]
    and (K)spreads over it his cloud.
10 He has inscribed (L)a circle on the face of the waters
    at the boundary between light and darkness.
11 (M)The pillars of heaven tremble
    and are astounded at his (N)rebuke.
12 By his power he (O)stilled the sea;
    by his understanding he shattered (P)Rahab.
13 (Q)By his wind the heavens were made fair;
    his hand pierced (R)the fleeing serpent.
14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his (S)ways,
    and how small (T)a whisper do we hear of him!
    But the thunder of his power who can understand?”

Footnotes

  1. Job 26:6 Hebrew him
  2. Job 26:9 Or his throne