The Book of Job

Then Job answered,

“How have you helped him who is without power! How have you saved the arm that has no strength!

How have you counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

To whom have you uttered words? Whose spirit came out of you?

“The departed spirits tremble, those beneath the waters and all that live in them.

Sheol

(a)

is naked before God, and Abaddon(b) has no covering.

He stretches out the north over empty space, and hangs the earth on nothing.

He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not burst under them.

He encloses the face of his throne, and spreads his cloud on it.

He has described a boundary on the surface of the waters, and to the confines of light and darkness.

The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his rebuke.

He stirs up the sea with his power, and by his understanding he strikes through Rahab.

By his Spirit the heavens are garnished. His hand has pierced the swift serpent.

Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?”

(a)26:6 Sheol is the place of the dead.

(b)26:6 Abaddon means Destroyer.

But Job answered and said,

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

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

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

Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.(a)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(a)26:5 and the…: or, with the inhabitants

(b)26:10 until…: Heb. until the end of light with darkness