1Then Job answered,
2“Truly I know that it is so,
but how can man be just with God?
3If he is pleased to contend with him,
he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.
4God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength.
Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
5He removes the mountains, and they don’t know it,
when he overturns them in his anger.
6He shakes the earth out of its place.
Its pillars tremble.
7He commands the sun and it doesn’t rise,
and seals up the stars.
8He alone stretches out the heavens,
and treads on the waves of the sea.
9He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
and the rooms of the south.
10He does great things past finding out;
yes, marvelous things without number.
11Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him.
He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.
12Behold, he snatches away.
Who can hinder him?
Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13“God will not withdraw his anger.
The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
14How much less will I answer him,
and choose my words to argue with him?
15Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him.
I would make supplication to my judge.
16If I had called, and he had answered me,
yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.
17For he breaks me with a storm,
and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18He will not allow me to catch my breath,
but fills me with bitterness.
19If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty!
If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me.
Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
21I am blameless.
I don’t respect myself.
I despise my life.
22“It is all the same.
Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23If the scourge kills suddenly,
he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.
He covers the faces of its judges.
If not he, then who is it?
25“Now my days are swifter than a runner.
They flee away. They see no good.
26They have passed away as the swift ships,
as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
27If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
28I am afraid of all my sorrows.
I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29I will be condemned.
Why then do I labor in vain?
30If I wash myself with snow,
and cleanse my hands with lye,
31yet you will plunge me in the ditch.
My own clothes will abhor me.
32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him,
that we should come together in judgment.
33There is no umpire between us,
that might lay his hand on us both.
34Let him take his rod away from me.
Let his terror not make me afraid;
35then I would speak, and not fear him,
for I am not so in myself.
Ezek 27:29 "Ships" - Article on Seafaring in the ancient world
The history of shipping and maritime activity in the biblical world roughly divides into several eras: pre-flood, post-flood until approximately 3000 B.C., 3000 B.C. until approximately 1500 B.C., and approximately 1500 B.C. until the first century A.D.
Before the flood, the descendants of Adam and Eve likely utilized the four rivers (Gen 1:7; 2:10-14) flowing out of Eden (Gen 2:8) via anything that could float (cf. Tubal-cain, who originated early technological advances [Gen 4:22]). Although likely a floating repository, or barge, by far the largest ship (Gen 6:14-16) in the entire Bible (that could not be matched until modern times in tonnage) is Noah's ark (cf. Gen 6:19-21). Some estimate the tonnage of Noah's ark and the Queen Mary may have been comparable (cf. Gen 6:15; 7:23b).
In the post-flood ancient near east, river ways would have been utilized to explore and expand (cf. Gen 11:2), especially after the division of the nations after the Tower (or ziggurat) of Babel (Gen 10:32). The earliest evidence of shipping along the 750 miles of the Nile, dating from approximately 3000 B.C. forward, demonstrates reed-made, flat-bottomed, square-ended vessels, the likes of which may have transported the massive stones for pyramid construction. Vessels of reeds (cf. Job 9:26) developed into rounded-bottomed designs with pointed and raised bows and sterns. The Nile area was abundant with reeds for ship-building, and the Nile's current would allow travel north with relative ease, with prevailing southerly winds allowing travel by sail to the south. Larger vessels could be fitted with rowers, who could have driven north or south by oars.
The earliest evidence of Mesopotamian-based shipping includes a clay model of a bowl-like design, with a simple bow and stern, dating to approximately 3400 B.C. From 3000 B.C. onward, overseas trade with East Africa and even India transpired through the Persian Gulf regularly, on vessels ranging in various capacities, even up to 28 tons.
From approximately 1500 B.C. onward, Phoenician (2 Chr 9:21), Cypriot (called "Kittim" in Num 24:24), Cretan (called "Caphtor," and the origin of the "Philistines," then Achaean, or southern Greek, ship building expanded and developed, for maritime (cf. Jonah 1:3) and military purposes (cf. Dan 11:40). Ships in this era increased in size, with sail and oar propulsion, with Corinth building the first "triremes," ships with three decks of oarsmen, in approximately 700 B.C.
Solomon (1 Kgs 9:26) and Jehoshaphat (1 Kgs 22:48) built, with Phoenician (1 Kgs 5:12) help (1 Kgs 9:27; 10:11,22), actual trading fleets, Jehoshaphat's fleet being destroyed (2 Chr 20:36,37).
Acts 27 paints the fullest, most detailed depiction of shipping in the
biblical world of the first century, demonstrating a vessel capable of transporting 276 persons (27:31) with cargo (27:18,38), with multiple tackling (27:19), anchors (27:40), rudders (27:40), and sails (27:40).