God Speaks to Job
Job 38 – 41
Job 38 – 41
O U T L I N E
| – God Speaks to Job | Job 38 – 41 |
| – God’s First Discourse to Job | Job 38 – 39 |
| – God’s Second Discourse to Job | Job 40 – 41 |
| – Epilogue: Job is Restored and Blessed | Job 42 |
God’s First Discourse to Job
Job 38 – 39
Job 38 – 39
Introductory Rebuke and Challenge (38:1-3)
CHAPTER 38
1 And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
Questions Concerning the Creation (38:4-15)
4 Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who set the measures thereof — if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it? 6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb? 9 When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it; 10 When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 12 Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou caused the dawn to know its place, 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked might be shaken out of it? 14 It is changed like the signet-clay; and all things stand forth as in a garment: 15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
Questions Concerning Inanimate Nature (38:16-38)
16 Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep? 17 Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? and hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death? 18 Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all. 19 Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place, 20 That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house? 21 Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great! 22 Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war? 24 By what way is the light parted, and the east wind scattered upon the earth? 25 Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder’s flash; 26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man; 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth? 28 Hath the rain a father? or who begetteth the drops of dew? 29 Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth? 30 When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together. 31 Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion? 32 Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons? 33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth? 34 Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee? 35 Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are? 36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind? 37 Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens, 38 When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
Questions Concerning Animate Nature (38:39 – 39:30)
39 Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they crouch in their dens, and abide in the thicket to lie in wait? 41 Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto GOD, and they wander for lack of meat?
CHAPTER 39
1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? dost thou mark the calving of the hinds? 2 Dost thou number the months that they fulfil? and knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 3 They bow themselves, they give birth to their young ones, they cast out their pains; 4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field, they go forth, and return not unto them. 5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? and who hath loosed the bands of the onager, 6 Whose house I made the wilderness, and the salt plain his dwellings? 7 He laugheth at the tumult of the city, and heareth not the shouts of the driver; 8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. 9 Will the buffalo be willing to serve thee, or will he lodge by thy crib? 10 Canst thou bind the buffalo with his cord in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 11 Wilt thou put confidence in him, because his strength is great? and wilt thou leave thy labour to him? 12 Wilt thou trust him to bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy threshing-floor? 13 The wing of the ostrich beats joyously — But is it the stork’s pinion and plumage? 14 For she leaveth her eggs to the earth, and warmeth them in the dust, 15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the beast of the field may trample them. 16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers; her labour is in vain, without her concern. 17 For +God hath deprived her of wisdom, and hath not furnished her with understanding. 18 What time she lasheth herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. 19 Hast thou given strength to the horse? hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane? 20 Dost thou make him to leap as a locust? His majestic snorting is terrible. 21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength; he goeth forth to meet the armed host. 22 He laugheth at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from before the sword. 23 The quiver rattleth upon him, the glittering spear and the javelin. 24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage, and cannot contain himself at the sound of the trumpet: 25 At the noise of the trumpets he saith, Aha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 26 Doth the hawk fly by thine intelligence, and stretch his wings toward the south? 27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make his nest on high? 28 He inhabiteth the rock and maketh his dwelling on the point of the cliff, and the fastness: 29 From thence he spieth out the prey, his eyes look into the distance; 30 And his young ones suck up blood; and where the slain are, there is he.