Job 26
International Standard Version
Job Reasons with Bildad
26 In reply, Job responded:
2 “What a help you are to the weak!
How powerfully you deliver those without strength!
3 What counsel you provide to the fool!
What insight you provide so abundantly!
4 Who helped you say all of this?
Who inspired you?”
Job Acknowledges God’s Power
5 “The ghosts of the dead[a] writhe under the waters
along with those who live there with them.
6 Sheol[b] is naked before God[c]
and Abaddon[d] has no clothes.
7 He spreads out the north over empty space,
suspending the earth over nothing.
8 “He restricts the waters within clouds
and the clouds don’t burst open under them.
9 He has enclosed the face of the full moon
and spread his clouds over it.
10 He has delimited a boundary[e] over the surface of the oceans
as a limit between light and darkness.
11 The pillars of the heavens tremble
and are astounded at his rebuke.
12 By his power he disturbs the sea;
and with his skill he shatters the sea monster.[f]
13 He clears the skies with his wind;
his hands have pierced the fleeing serpent.
14 Indeed, these are the fringes of his ways,
and how faint is the whisper we’ve heard of it!
But who can comprehend the thunder of his might?”
Job 26
New King James Version
Job: Man’s Frailty and God’s Majesty
26 But Job answered and said:
2 “How have you helped him who is without power?
How have you saved the arm that has no strength?
3 How have you counseled one who has no wisdom?
And how have you declared sound advice to many?
4 To whom have you uttered words?
And whose spirit came from you?
5 “The dead tremble,
Those under the waters and those inhabiting them.
6 (A)Sheol is naked before Him,
And Destruction has no covering.
7 (B)He stretches out the north over empty space;
He hangs the earth on nothing.
8 (C)He binds up the water in His thick clouds,
Yet the clouds [a]are not broken under it.
9 He covers the face of His throne,
And spreads His cloud over it.
10 (D)He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters,
At the boundary of light and darkness.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble,
And are [b]astonished at His rebuke.
12 (E)He stirs up the sea with His power,
And by His understanding He breaks up [c]the storm.
13 (F)By His Spirit He adorned the heavens;
His hand pierced (G)the fleeing serpent.
14 Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?”
Job 26
English Standard Version
Job Replies: God's Majesty Is Unsearchable
26 Then Job answered and said:
2 “How you have (A)helped him who has no power!
How you have saved (B)the arm that has no strength!
3 How you have (C)counseled him who has no wisdom,
and plentifully declared sound knowledge!
4 With whose help have you uttered words,
and whose breath (D)has come out from you?
5 The (E)dead tremble
under the waters and their inhabitants.
6 Sheol is (F)naked before God,[a]
and (G)Abaddon has no covering.
7 He (H)stretches out the north over (I)the void
and hangs the earth on nothing.
8 He (J)binds up the waters in his thick clouds,
and the cloud is not split open under them.
9 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?”
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
