Add parallel Print Page Options

38 Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,

“Who is this who darkens counsel
    by words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man,
    for I will question you, then you answer me!

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
    Declare, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measures, if you know?
    Or who stretched the line on it?
What were its foundations fastened on?
    Or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together,
    and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

“Or who shut up the sea with doors,
    when it broke out of the womb,
when I made clouds its garment,
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 marked out for it my bound,
    set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘You may come here, but no further.
    Your proud waves shall be stopped here’?

12 “Have you commanded the morning in your days,
    and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
    and shake the wicked out of it?
14 It is changed as clay under the seal,
    and presented as a garment.
15 From the wicked, their light is withheld.
    The high arm is broken.

16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea?
    Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you?
    Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the earth in its width?
    Declare, if you know it all.

19 “What is the way to the dwelling of light?
    As for darkness, where is its place,
20 that you should take it to its bound,
    that you should discern the paths to its house?
21 Surely you know, for you were born then,
    and the number of your days is great!
22 Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
    or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I have reserved against the time of trouble,
    against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the lightning distributed,
    or the east wind scattered on the earth?

25 Who has cut a channel for the flood water,
    or the path for the thunderstorm,
26 to cause it to rain on a land where there is no man,
    on the wilderness, in which there is no man,
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate ground,
    to cause the tender grass to grow?
28 Does the rain have a father?
    Or who fathers the drops of dew?
29 Whose womb did the ice come out of?
    Who has given birth to the gray frost of the sky?
30 The waters become hard like stone,
    when the surface of the deep is frozen.

31 “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades,
    or loosen the cords of Orion?
32 Can you lead the constellations out in their season?
    Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
33 Do you know the laws of the heavens?
    Can you establish its dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
    that abundance of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go?
    Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts?
    Or who has given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can count the clouds by wisdom?
    Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,
38 when the dust runs into a mass,
    and the clods of earth stick together?

39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lioness,
    or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they crouch in their dens,
    and lie in wait in the thicket?
41 Who provides for the raven his prey,
    when his young ones cry to God,
    and wander for lack of food?

El SEÑOR interpela a Job

38 Entonces el SEÑOR respondió a Job desde un torbellino y dijo:


—¿Quién es ese que oscurece el consejo con palabras sin conocimiento?
Cíñete, pues, los lomos como un hombre;
yo te preguntaré, y tú me lo harás saber:
¿Dónde estabas tú cuando yo fundaba la tierra?
Házmelo saber, si tienes entendimiento.
¿Quién determinó sus medidas?
Porque tú lo debes saber.
¿O quién extendió sobre ella un cordel?
¿Sobre qué están afirmados sus cimientos? ¿O quién puso su piedra angular
cuando aclamaban juntas las estrellas del alba
y gritaban de júbilo todos los hijos
de Dios?
»¿Quién contuvo mediante compuertas el mar
cuando, irrumpiendo, salió del vientre;
cuando le puse las nubes por vestido
y la oscuridad como pañal?
10 Yo establecí sobre él un límite,
y le puse cerrojos y puertas.
11 Le dije: “Hasta aquí llegarás y no
seguirás adelante.
Aquí cesará la soberbia de tus olas”.
12 »¿Alguna vez en tu vida diste órdenes
a la mañana?
¿Has mostrado a la aurora su lugar,
13 para que, al tomar por los extremos
la tierra,
sean sacudidos de ella los impíos?
14 Ella se transforma cual la arcilla en
el molde
y se presenta como una vestidura.
15 Entonces la luz es quitada a los impíos y es quebrantado el brazo enaltecido.
16 »¿Has penetrado hasta las fuentes del mar?
¿Has andado escudriñando el abismo?
17 ¿Te han sido reveladas las puertas de la muerte?
¿Has visto las puertas de la densa oscuridad?
18 ¿Has reflexionado acerca de la amplitud de la tierra?
¡Decláralo, si sabes todo esto!
19 »¿Dónde está el camino hacia la morada de la luz?
¿Y dónde está el lugar de las tinieblas
20 para que las repliegues a su territorio
y para que disciernas el camino a su morada?
21 Tú lo debes saber,
porque entonces ya habías nacido
y es muy grande el número de tus días.
22 »¿Has entrado en los depósitos de
la nieve,
o has visto los depósitos del granizo
23 que tengo reservados
para el tiempo de la angustia, para el día de la batalla y de la guerra?
24 ¿Dónde está el camino
por el cual se distribuye la luz
y se desplaza sobre la tierra
el viento oriental?
25 ¿Quién abre cauce al aluvión,
y camino a relámpagos y truenos
26 haciendo llover sobre la tierra sin hombres,
sobre el desierto donde no hay
un ser humano;
27 para saciar la tierra asolada y desolada, y para hacer brotar la hierba?
28 ¿Acaso la lluvia tiene un padre? ¿O quién engendró las gotas del rocío?
29 ¿Del vientre de quién salió el hielo?
A la escarcha del cielo,
¿quién la dio a luz?
30 Las aguas se congelan como piedra,
y se endurece la superficie del océano.
31 »¿Podrás unir con cadenas a las Pléyades o aflojar las cuerdas de Orión?
32 ¿Harás salir las constelaciones
en su respectivo tiempo?
¿Guiarás a la Osa Mayor junto con sus hijos?
33 ¿Conoces las leyes de los cielos? ¿Podrás establecer su dominio en
la tierra?
34 »¿Alzarás a las nubes tu voz
para que te cubra abundancia de aguas?
35 ¿Enviarás los relámpagos
de modo que vayan y te digan: “¡Aquí nos tienes!”?
36 ¿Quién puso sabiduría en el interior del ser?
¿Quién dio inteligencia al gallo?
37 ¿Quién puede contar las nubes con
sabiduría?
¿Quién puede hacer que se inclinen
las tinajas de los cielos
38 cuando el polvo se endurece como sólido
y los terrones se pegan unos con otros?
39 »¿Cazarás presa para la leona? ¿Saciarás el apetito de sus cachorros
40 cuando se recuestan en sus guaridas
y se quedan en la espesura,
en sus escondrijos?
41 »¿Quién prepara al cuervo su comida cuando sus polluelos claman a Dios
y andan errantes por falta de alimento?

38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35 Canst thou send 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 heart?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job(A)

38 Then the Lord answered Job (B)out of the whirlwind, and said:

“Who(C) is this who darkens counsel
By (D)words without knowledge?
(E)Now [a]prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

“Where(F) were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the [b]line upon it?
To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
When the morning stars sang together,
And all (G)the sons of God shouted for joy?

“Or(H) who shut in the sea with doors,
When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
When I made the clouds its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 When (I)I fixed My limit for it,
And set bars and doors;
11 When I said,
‘This far you may come, but no farther,
And here your proud waves (J)must stop!’

12 “Have you (K)commanded the morning since your days began,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And (L)the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It takes on form like clay under a seal,
And stands out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their (M)light is withheld,
And (N)the [c]upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have you (O)entered the springs of the sea?
Or have you walked in search of the depths?
17 Have (P)the gates of death been [d]revealed to you?
Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the breadth of 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 may take it to its territory,
That you may know the paths to its home?
21 Do you know it, because you were born then,
Or because the number of your days is great?

22 “Have you entered (Q)the treasury of snow,
Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23 (R)Which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
For the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is light [e]diffused,
Or the east wind scattered over the earth?

25 “Who (S)has divided a channel for the overflowing water,
Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26 To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one,
A wilderness in which there is no man;
27 (T)To satisfy the desolate waste,
And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
28 (U)Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
And the (V)frost of heaven, who gives it birth?
30 The waters harden like stone,
And the surface of the deep is (W)frozen.[f]

31 “Can you bind the cluster of the (X)Pleiades,[g]
Or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out [h]Mazzaroth in its season?
Or can you guide [i]the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know (Y)the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you set their dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
That an abundance of water may cover you?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go,
And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?
36 (Z)Who has put wisdom in [j]the mind?
Or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust hardens in clumps,
And the clods cling together?

39 “Can(AA) you hunt the prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in their dens,
Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?
41 (AB)Who provides food for the raven,
When its young ones cry to God,
And wander about for lack of food?

Footnotes

  1. Job 38:3 Lit. gird up your loins like
  2. Job 38:5 measuring line
  3. Job 38:15 Lit. high
  4. Job 38:17 Lit. opened
  5. Job 38:24 Lit. divided
  6. Job 38:30 Lit. imprisoned
  7. Job 38:31 Or the Seven Stars
  8. Job 38:32 Lit. Constellations
  9. Job 38:32 Or Arcturus
  10. Job 38:36 Lit. the inward parts