Add parallel Print Page Options

“The ·spirits of the dead [shades; L Rephaim; C departed ancestors] tremble,
    ·those who are beneath and in the waters [L the waters and their inhabitants are terrified; C symbol for the forces of evil].
·Death [L The grave; Sheol] ·is naked [lies exposed] before God;
    ·destruction [Abaddon; C the underworld] is uncovered before him [C God is in control of them].
God stretches ·the northern sky [or Zaphon; C a reference to Baal’s mountain; indicating God’s control over it] out over empty space
    and hangs the earth on nothing.
He wraps up the waters in his thick clouds,
    but the clouds do not ·break under their weight [L burst under them].
He covers the face of the ·moon [or throne],
    spreading his clouds over it.
10 He draws the horizon like a circle on the water
    at the place where light and darkness meet.
11 ·Heaven’s foundations [L The pillars of heavens; C perhaps mountains] ·shake [quake]
    ·when he thunders at them [L astounded by his rebuke/blast].
12 With his power he ·quiets [stills] the ·sea [or Sea; C the powers of chaos];
    by his ·wisdom [understanding] he ·destroys [struck] Rahab, the sea monster [9:13].
13 He breathes, and ·the sky clears [L he makes the heavens beautiful].
    His hand ·stabs [slays] the fleeing ·snake [serpent; C Leviathan, another sea monster representing chaos; 3:8; Is. 27:1].
14 And these are ·only a small part of God’s works [L fringes of his way].
    We only hear a small whisper of him.
Who could understand God’s thundering power?”

Read full chapter

The Greatness of God

“The [a](A)departed spirits are made to tremble
Under the waters and their inhabitants.
[b](B)Sheol is naked before Him,
And [c](C)Abaddon has no covering.
He (D)stretches out the north over empty space
And hangs the earth on nothing.
He (E)wraps up the waters in His clouds,
And the cloud does not burst under them.
He [d](F)obscures the face of the [e]full moon
And spreads His cloud over it.
10 He has inscribed a (G)circle on the surface of the waters
At the (H)boundary of light and darkness.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble
And are amazed at His rebuke.
12 With His power He (I)quieted the sea,
And by His (J)understanding He shattered [f](K)Rahab.
13 By His breath the (L)heavens are [g]cleared;
His hand has pierced (M)the fleeing serpent.
14 Behold, these are the fringes of His ways;
And how faint (N)a word we hear of Him!
But His mighty (O)thunder, who can understand?”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 26:5 Or shades; Heb Rephaim
  2. Job 26:6 I.e., the netherworld
  3. Job 26:6 I.e., the place of destruction
  4. Job 26:9 Lit covers
  5. Job 26:9 Or throne
  6. Job 26:12 I.e., a sea monster, not to be confused with Rahab in Joshua 2
  7. Job 26:13 Lit beauty