Job 26

But Job answered and said,

1Then Job answered his friend. This is what he said.

2How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?

2How have you helped a person with no power? How have you saved an arm that has no strength?

NoteJob is talking to his friend Bildad. His questions are not really questions. He means that Bildad's words did not help anyone.

3How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

3How have you taught someone who is not wise? How well have you explained things to him?

4To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?

4Who helped you say these words? Whose spirit was speaking through you?

5Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.

5The dead ones shake down below. They are under the waters with all who live there.

6Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

6The place of the dead lies open before God. Nothing there is covered or hidden from him.

NoteThe Hebrew word here is Sheol. It means the place where dead people go. It is not the same as what people today call hell.

7He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

7God spreads the northern sky over empty space. He hangs the earth on nothing at all.

8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

8He wraps the water up inside his thick clouds. The clouds do not burst open under the weight.

9He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.

9He covers the face of the full moon. He spreads his cloud over it like a blanket.

10He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

10He drew a circle on the face of the sea. It marks where light ends and darkness begins.

11The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

11The pillars that hold up the sky shake. God speaks a sharp word, and they are amazed.

12He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

12With his power he stirs up the sea. With his wisdom he crushed the proud sea monster.

NoteThe old poems used the name Rahab for a huge monster in the sea. The King James Bible calls it "the proud."

13By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

13His breath swept the sky clean and bright. His hand pierced the long, twisting snake.

14Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

14All of this is only the outer edge of what God does. We hear just a tiny whisper about him. His power sounds like thunder. Who could ever understand it?