Job 26 ASV
Summary: Job responds with biting sarcasm, asking Bildad how he has helped the powerless or given counsel to the unwise with such a thin speech, before pivoting into his own soaring description of God's power that surpasses anything his friends have offered. He describes the dead trembling beneath the waters, Sheol lying naked before God, the earth hung on nothing, waters bound in thick clouds without bursting, and the pillars of heaven trembling at God's rebuke, including God's power that "stilleth the sea" and pierces the fleeing serpent. Job concludes that even these mighty acts are merely "the outskirts of his ways," the faint whisper of God's full power, which no one can truly comprehend (v. 14).
1Then Job answered and said,
2How hast thou helped him that is without power! How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!
3How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge!
4To whom hast thou uttered words? And whose spirit came forth from thee?
5They that are deceased tremble Beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.
6Sheol is naked before God, And Abaddon hath no covering.
7He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.
8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; And the cloud is not rent under them.
9He incloseth the face of his throne, And spreadeth his cloud upon it.
10He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light and darkness.
11The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his rebuke.
12He stirreth up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab.
13By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent.
14Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?
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