The Creation

(A)In the beginning (B)God (C)created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a [a](D)formless and desolate emptiness, and (E)darkness was over the [b]surface of the deep, and (F)the Spirit of God (G)was hovering over the [c]surface of the waters. Then (H)God said, “[d]Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was (I)good; and God (J)separated the light from the darkness. (K)God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And (L)there was evening and there was morning, one day.

Then God said, “Let there be [e]an (M)expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” God made the [f]expanse, and separated (N)the waters that were below the [g]expanse from the waters (O)that were above the [h]expanse; and it was so. God called the [i]expanse “heaven.” And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

Then God said, “(P)Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let (Q)the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land “earth,” and the (R)gathering of the waters He called “seas”; and God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth sprout [j](S)vegetation, [k]plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit according to [l]their kind [m]with seed in them”; and it was so. 12 The earth produced [n]vegetation, [o]plants yielding seed according to [p]their kind, and trees bearing fruit [q]with seed in them, according to [r]their kind; and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.

14 Then God said, “Let there be [s](T)lights in the [t](U)expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and they shall [u]serve as (V)signs and for (W)seasons, and for days and years; 15 and they [v]shall serve as lights in the [w]expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 God made the two great lights, the (X)greater light [x]to govern the day, and the lesser light [y]to govern the night; He made (Y)the stars also. 17 (Z)God placed them in the [z]expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and [aa]to (AA)govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

20 Then God said, “Let the waters [ab]teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth [ac]in the open [ad]expanse of the heavens.” 21 And God created (AB)the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind; and God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

24 (AC)Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to [ae]their kind: livestock and crawling things and animals of the earth according to [af]their kind”; and it was so. 25 God made the (AD)animals of the earth according to [ag]their kind, and the livestock according to [ah]their kind, and everything that crawls on the ground according to its kind; and God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “[ai]Let (AE)Us make (AF)mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and [aj]let them (AG)rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.” 27 So God created man (AH)in His own image, in the image of God He created him; (AI)male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “(AJ)Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that [ak]moves on the earth.” 29 Then God said, “Behold, (AK)I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the [al]surface of all the earth, and every tree [am]which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; 30 and (AL)to every animal of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that [an]moves on the earth [ao]which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. 31 And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very (AM)good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 1:2 Or waste
  2. Genesis 1:2 Lit face of
  3. Genesis 1:2 Lit face of
  4. Genesis 1:3 I.e., a command, not a request; and so throughout the ch
  5. Genesis 1:6 Or a firmament; i.e., atmosphere and space
  6. Genesis 1:7 Or firmament
  7. Genesis 1:7 Or firmament
  8. Genesis 1:7 Or firmament
  9. Genesis 1:8 Or firmament
  10. Genesis 1:11 Or grass
  11. Genesis 1:11 Or herbs
  12. Genesis 1:11 Lit its
  13. Genesis 1:11 Lit in which is its seed
  14. Genesis 1:12 Or grass
  15. Genesis 1:12 Or herbs
  16. Genesis 1:12 Lit its
  17. Genesis 1:12 Lit in which is its seed
  18. Genesis 1:12 Lit its
  19. Genesis 1:14 Or luminaries, light-bearers, and so throughout the ch
  20. Genesis 1:14 Or firmament; i.e., atmosphere and space
  21. Genesis 1:14 Lit be for
  22. Genesis 1:15 Lit be for
  23. Genesis 1:15 Or firmament
  24. Genesis 1:16 Lit for the dominion of
  25. Genesis 1:16 Lit for the dominion of
  26. Genesis 1:17 Or firmament
  27. Genesis 1:18 Lit for the dominion of
  28. Genesis 1:20 Or swarm
  29. Genesis 1:20 Lit on the face of
  30. Genesis 1:20 Or firmament
  31. Genesis 1:24 Lit its
  32. Genesis 1:24 Lit its
  33. Genesis 1:25 Lit its
  34. Genesis 1:25 Lit its
  35. Genesis 1:26 I.e., indicating united action, not a request
  36. Genesis 1:26 I.e., have them rule
  37. Genesis 1:28 Or crawls
  38. Genesis 1:29 Lit face of
  39. Genesis 1:29 Lit in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed
  40. Genesis 1:30 Or crawls
  41. Genesis 1:30 Lit in which is living breath

Where were you (A)when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you [a]have understanding,
Who set its (B)measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the measuring line over it?
On what (C)were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
When the morning stars sang together
And all the (D)sons of God shouted for joy?

“Or who (E)enclosed the sea with doors
When it went out from the womb, bursting forth;
When I made a cloud its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling bands,
10 And I [b](F)placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘As far as this point you shall come, but no farther;
And here your proud waves shall stop’?

God’s Mighty Power

12 “Have you [c]ever in your life commanded the morning,
And made the dawn know its place,
13 So that it would take hold of (G)the ends of the earth,
And (H)the wicked would be shaken off from it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand out like a garment.
15 (I)Their light is withheld from the wicked,
And the (J)uplifted arm is broken.

16 “Have you entered (K)the springs of the sea,
And walked [d]in the depth of the ocean?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
And have you seen the gates of (L)deep darkness?
18 Have you understood the [e]expanse of (M)the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.

19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you would take it to (N)its territory,
And discern the paths to its [f]home?
21 You know, for (O)you were born then,
And the number of your days is great!
22 Have you entered the storehouses (P)of the snow,
And have you seen the storehouses of the (Q)hail,
23 Which I have reserved for a time of distress,
For a day of war and battle?
24 Where is the way that (R)the light is divided,
And the east wind scattered on the earth?

25 “Who has split open a channel for the flood,
And a way for the thunderbolt,
26 To bring (S)rain on a land without [g]people,
On a desert without a person in it,
27 To (T)satisfy the waste and desolate land,
And to make the [h]seeds of grass to sprout?
28 Does (U)the rain have a father?
Or who has fathered the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb has come the (V)ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
30 Water [i]becomes hard like stone,
And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.

31 “Can you tie up the chains of the (W)Pleiades,
Or untie the cords of Orion?
32 Can you bring out a [j]constellation in its season,
And guide the Bear with her [k]satellites?
33 Do you know the (X)ordinances of the heavens,
Or do you establish their rule over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds,
So that an (Y)abundance of water will cover you?
35 Can you (Z)send flashes of lightning, so that they may go
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has (AA)put wisdom in the innermost being,
Or given (AB)understanding to the [l]mind?
37 Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
And (AC)pour out the water jars of the heavens,
38 When the dust hardens into a mass
And the clods stick together?

39 “Can you hunt the (AD)prey for the lioness,
Or satisfy the appetite of young lions,
40 When they (AE)crouch in their hiding places,
And lie in wait in their lair?
41 Who prepares [m]feed for (AF)the raven
When its young cry to God,
And wander about without food?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 38:4 Lit know understanding
  2. Job 38:10 Lit broke My decree on it
  3. Job 38:12 Lit from your days commanded
  4. Job 38:16 Or in search of the deep
  5. Job 38:18 Or width
  6. Job 38:20 Lit house
  7. Job 38:26 Lit man
  8. Job 38:27 Or growth
  9. Job 38:30 Lit hides itself like
  10. Job 38:32 Heb Mazzaroth
  11. Job 38:32 Lit sons
  12. Job 38:36 Or rooster
  13. Job 38:41 Lit its feed

Bible Gateway Recommends