Job 38
38
The Lord Answers Job
1Then the Lord #ch. 40:6; [ch. 13:22]answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2“Who is this that #ch. 42:3 darkens counsel by words #See ch. 35:16without knowledge?
3 #
1 Kgs. 18:46
Dress for action#38:3 Hebrew Gird up your loins like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4“Where were you when I #Ps. 104:5; [Prov. 30:4; Isa. 40:12-14]; See Prov. 8:24-29laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7when the morning stars #[Ps. 19:1-4] sang together
and all #See ch. 1:6 the sons of God #[Luke 2:13, 14]shouted for joy?
8“Or who #Gen. 1:9; Ps. 33:7; 104:8, 9; Jer. 5:22shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
9when I made clouds its garment
and #ch. 22:13thick darkness its swaddling band,
10and prescribed #[ver. 33 (Heb.)]limits for it
and set bars and doors,
11and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your #[Ps. 65:7; 89:9; 93:4]proud waves be stayed’?
12“Have you #Ps. 65:8; 74:16commanded the morning since your days began,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
13that it might take hold of #ch. 37:3 the skirts of the earth,
and the wicked be #[Neh. 5:13]shaken out of it?
14It is changed like clay under the seal,
and its features stand out like a garment.
15From the wicked their #ch. 18:5; [Matt. 6:23]; See ch. 24:13-17 light is withheld,
and #Ps. 10:15; 37:17; Ezek. 30:21, 22their uplifted arm is broken.
16“Have you #Ps. 77:19entered into the springs of the sea,
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17Have #Ps. 9:13; 107:18; [Isa. 38:10; Matt. 16:18] the gates of death been revealed to you,
or have you seen the gates of #See ch. 3:5deep darkness?
18Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
Declare, if you know all this.
19“Where is the way to the dwelling of light,
and where is the place of darkness,
20that you may take it to its territory
and that you may discern #ch. 24:13the paths to its home?
21You know, for #[ch. 15:7]you were born then,
and the number of your days is great!
22“Have you entered #[Ps. 135:7]the storehouses of the snow,
or have you seen #[Ps. 135:7]the storehouses of the hail,
23which I have reserved #Josh. 10:11; Isa. 28:17; 30:30; Ezek. 13:11, 13; 38:22; Rev. 16:21; [ch. 37:13]for the time of trouble,
#
Josh. 10:11; Isa. 28:17; 30:30; Ezek. 13:11, 13; 38:22; Rev. 16:21; [ch. 37:13] for the day of battle and war?
24What is the way to the place where the light is distributed,
or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
25“Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain
and #ch. 28:26a way for the thunderbolt,
26to bring rain on #[ch. 37:13] a land where no man is,
on #Ps. 107:35the desert in which there is no man,
27to satisfy the waste and desolate land,
and to make the ground sprout with #Gen. 1:11; 2 Sam. 23:4grass?
28“Has #Ps. 147:8; Jer. 14:22the rain a father,
or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29From whose womb did #Ps. 147:16, 17the ice come forth,
and who has given birth to #Ps. 147:16, 17the frost of heaven?
30The waters become hard like stone,
and the face of the deep is #[ch. 37:10]frozen.
31“Can you bind the chains of #ch. 9:9; Amos 5:8the Pleiades
or loose the cords of #ch. 9:9; Amos 5:8Orion?
32Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth#38:32 Probably the name of a constellation in their season,
or can you guide #[See ver. 31 above]the Bear with its children?
33Do you know #Jer. 31:35the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you establish their rule on the earth?
34“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
that #ch. 22:11a flood of waters may cover you?
35Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go
and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36Who has #See ch. 32:8 put wisdom in #Ps. 51:6the inward parts#38:36 Or in the ibis
or given understanding to the mind?#38:36 Or rooster
37Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
38when the dust runs into a mass
and #ch. 21:33the clods stick fast together?
39“Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
or #[Ps. 104:21]satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40when they crouch in their #ch. 37:8 dens
or lie in wait #Ps. 17:12in their thicket?
41Who provides for #Ps. 147:9; Luke 12:24; [Matt. 6:26]the raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God for help,
and wander about for lack of food?
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Job 38: ESV
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