Job 26 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Job’s Reply

26 Job replied,

2 “Bildad, you haven’t helped people who aren’t strong!
You haven’t saved people who are weak!
3 You haven’t offered advice to those who aren’t wise!
In fact, you haven’t understood anything at all!
4 Who helped you say these things?
Whose spirit was speaking through you?

5 “The spirits of the dead are suffering greatly.
So are those that are under the waters.
And so are all those that live in them.
6 The place of the dead is naked in the sight of God.
The grave lies open in front of him.
7 He spreads out the northern skies over empty space.
He hangs the earth over nothing.
8 He wraps up water in his clouds.
They are heavy, but they don’t burst.
9 He covers the face of the full moon.
He spreads his clouds over it.
10 He marks out the place where the sky meets the sea.
He marks out the boundary between light and darkness.
11 The pillars of the heavens shake.
They are terrified when his anger blazes out.
12 With his power he stirred up the oceans.
In his wisdom he cut the sea monster Rahab to pieces.
13 His breath made the skies bright and clear.
His hand wounded the serpent that glides through the sea.
14 Those are only on the edges of what he does.
They are only the soft whispers that we hear from him.
So who can understand how very powerful he is?”