Job 26

Job’s Reply to Bildad

1 Then Job answered:

2 How you have helped  * 26:2 Jb 4:3; Is 35:3; Heb 12:12 the powerless

and delivered the arm that is weak!

3 How you have counseled the unwise  * 26:3 Jb 11:6; Ps 73:24; Jms 1:5

and abundantly provided insight!

4 With whom did you speak these words?

Whose breath came out of your mouth?

5 The departed spirits tremble

beneath the waters and all that inhabit them.  * 26:5 Ps 88:10; Is 26:14,19; Rv 20:13

6 Sheol  * 26:6 Ps 30:3,9; Pr 1:12; Is 5:14 is naked before God,

and Abaddon  * 26:6 Jb 28:22; Pr 27:20; Rv 9:11 has no covering.  * 26:6 Ps 139:8; Pr 15:11; Heb 4:13

7 He stretches the northern skies over empty space;

he hangs the earth on nothing.

8 He wraps up the water in his clouds,

yet the clouds do not burst beneath its weight.  * 26:8 Jb 37:11; 38:9; Pr 30:4

9 He obscures the view of his throne,

spreading his cloud over it.

10 He laid out the horizon on the surface of the waters  * 26:10 Ps 104:9; Pr 8:27,29; Jr 5:22

at the boundary between light and darkness.

11 The pillars that hold up the sky tremble,

astounded at his rebuke.  * 26:11 2Sm 22:16; Ps 18:15; 104:7

12 By his power he stirred  * 26:12 Is 51:15; Jr 31:35 the sea,

and by his understanding he crushed Rahab.  * 26:12 Jb 9:13; Ps 89:10; Is 51:9

13 By his breath the heavens gained their beauty;

his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.  * 26:13 = Leviathan,* 26:13 Jb 41; Ps 33:6; Is 27:1

14 These are but the fringes of his ways;

how faint is the word we hear of him!

Who can understand his mighty thunder?