Job: the outer fringe of his works
Then Job replied: How you have helped the powerless. How you have saved the arm that is feeble. What advice you have offered to one without wisdom. And what great insight you have displayed. Who has helped you utter these words? And whose spirit spoke from your mouth? The dead are in deep anguish, those beneath the waters and all that live in them. The realm of the dead is naked before God; Destruction lies uncovered. He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke. By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces. By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent. And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him. Who then can understand the thunder of his power?
Then Job replied:
But Job answered and said,
How you have helped the powerless.
How you have saved the arm that is feeble.
How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
What advice you have offered to one without wisdom.
And what great insight you have displayed.
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
Who has helped you utter these words?
And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?
To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
The dead are in deep anguish,
those beneath the waters and all that live in them.
Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
The realm of the dead is naked before God;
Destruction lies uncovered.
Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
He spreads out the northern skies over empty space;
he suspends the earth over nothing.
He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
He wraps up the waters in his clouds,
yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
He covers the face of the full moon,
spreading his clouds over it.
He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters
for a boundary between light and darkness.
He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
The pillars of the heavens quake,
aghast at his rebuke.
The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
By his power he churned up the sea;
by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces.
He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
By his breath the skies became fair;
his hand pierced the gliding serpent.
By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
how faint the whisper we hear of him.
Who then can understand the thunder of his power?
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?