> [[job-37|← Previous]] | [[job-00|TOC]] | [[job-39|Next →]] --- # Job, Chapter 38 ## Chapter 38 # VIII. The Lord and Job Meet 1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm and said: ^job-38-1 2 Who is this who darkens counsel ^job-38-2 with words of ignorance? 3 Gird up your loins now, like a man; ^job-38-3 I will question you, and you tell me the answers! 4 Where were you when I founded the earth? ^job-38-4 Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its size? Surely you know? ^job-38-5 Who stretched out the measuring line for it? 6 Into what were its pedestals sunk, ^job-38-6 and who laid its cornerstone, 7 While the morning stars sang together ^job-38-7 and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Who shut within doors the sea, ^job-38-8 when it burst forth from the womb, 9 When I made the clouds its garment ^job-38-9 and thick darkness its swaddling bands? 10 When I set limits for it ^job-38-10 and fastened the bar of its door, 11 And said: Thus far shall you come but no farther, ^job-38-11 and here shall your proud waves stop? 12 Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning ^job-38-12 and shown the dawn its place 13 For taking hold of the ends of the earth, ^job-38-13 till the wicked are shaken from it? 14 The earth is changed as clay by the seal, ^job-38-14 and dyed like a garment; 15 But from the wicked their light is withheld, ^job-38-15 and the arm of pride is shattered. 16 Have you entered into the sources of the sea, ^job-38-16 or walked about on the bottom of the deep? 17 Have the gates of death been shown to you, ^job-38-17 or have you seen the gates of darkness? 18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? ^job-38-18 Tell me, if you know it all. 19 What is the way to the dwelling of light, ^job-38-19 and darkness—where is its place? 20 That you may take it to its territory ^job-38-20 and know the paths to its home? 21 You know, because you were born then, ^job-38-21 and the number of your days is great! 22 Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, ^job-38-22 and seen the storehouses of the hail 23 Which I have reserved for times of distress, ^job-38-23 for a day of war and battle? 24 What is the way to the parting of the winds, ^job-38-24 where the east wind spreads over the earth? 25 Who has laid out a channel for the downpour ^job-38-25 and a path for the thunderstorm 26 To bring rain to uninhabited land, ^job-38-26 the unpeopled wilderness; 27 To drench the desolate wasteland ^job-38-27 till the desert blooms with verdure? 28 Has the rain a father? ^job-38-28 Who has begotten the drops of dew? 29 Out of whose womb comes the ice, ^job-38-29 and who gives the hoarfrost its birth in the skies, 30 When the waters lie covered as though with stone ^job-38-30 that holds captive the surface of the deep? 31 Have you tied cords to the Pleiades, ^job-38-31 or loosened the bonds of Orion? 32 Can you bring forth the Mazzaroth in their season, ^job-38-32 or guide the Bear with her children? 33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens; ^job-38-33 can you put into effect their plan on the earth? 34 Can you raise your voice to the clouds, ^job-38-34 for them to cover you with a deluge of waters? 35 Can you send forth the lightnings on their way, ^job-38-35 so that they say to you, “Here we are”? 36 Who gives wisdom to the ibis, ^job-38-36 and gives the rooster understanding? 37 Who counts the clouds with wisdom? ^job-38-37 Who tilts the water jars of heaven 38 So that the dust of earth is fused into a mass ^job-38-38 and its clods stick together? 39 Do you hunt the prey for the lion ^job-38-39 or appease the hunger of young lions, 40 While they crouch in their dens, ^job-38-40 or lie in ambush in the thicket? 41 Who provides nourishment for the raven ^job-38-41 when its young cry out to God, wandering about without food? \* (38:1) Now the Lord enters the debate and addresses two discourses (chaps. [38] – [39] and [40] – [41]) to Job, speaking of divine wisdom and power. Such things are altogether beyond the capacity of Job. Out of the storm: frequently the background of the appearances of the Lord in the Old Testament; cf. [Ps 18]; [50]; [Na 1:3]; [Hb 3:2] – [15]. \* (38:3) Gird up your loins: prepare for combat—figuratively, be ready to defend yourself in debate. \* (38:7) Sons of God: see note on [1:6]. \* (38:21) Ironic, but not a harsh rebuke. \* (38:31] – [32) Pleiades…Orion…Bear: cf. [9:9]. Mazzaroth: it is uncertain what astronomical group is meant by this Hebrew word; perhaps a southern constellation. \* (38:36) Ibis…rooster: the translation is uncertain. a. (38:3) [Jb 40:2]. b. (38:8) [Gn 1:9]. c. (38:23) [Jos 10:11]; [Sir 46:5]. d. (38:41) [Ps 147:9]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[job-37|← Previous]] | [[job-00|TOC]] | [[job-39|Next →]]