38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the a whirlwind, and
said,
(a) That his words might have greater majesty, and that Job
might know with whom he had to do.
38:2 Who [is] this that b darkeneth counsel by words without
knowledge?
(b) Which by seeking out the secret counsel of God by man's
reason, makes it more obscure, and shows his own folly.
38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I c will demand of
thee, and answer thou me.
(c) Because he wished to dispute with God, (Job 23:3),
God reasons with him, to declare his rashness.
38:4 Where wast thou when I d laid the foundations of the
earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
(d) Seeing he could not judge those things which were done
so long before he was born, he was not able to
comprehend all God's works: much less the secret causes
of his judgments.
38:7 When the morning stars e sang together, and all the f
sons of God shouted for joy?
(e) The stars and dumb creatures are said to praise God,
because his power, wisdom and goodness is manifest and
known in it.
(f) Meaning the angels.
38:9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick
darkness a g swaddlingband for it,
(g) As though the great sea was but as a little baby in the
hands of God to turn to and fro.
38:11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and
here shall thy proud waves be h stayed?
(h) That is, God's decree and commandment as in
(Job 38:10).
38:12 Hast thou commanded the i morning since thy days; [and]
caused the dayspring to know his place;
(i) That is, to rise, since you were born?
38:13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the
wicked might be k shaken out of it?
(k) Who having in the night been given to wickedness,
cannot abide the light, but hide themselves.
38:14 It is turned as clay [to] the seal; l and they stand as
a garment.
(l) The earth which seemed in the night to have no form by
the rising of the sun, is as it were created anew, and
all things in it clad with new beauty.
38:16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast
thou walked in the search of the m depth?
(m) If you are not able to seek out the depth of the sea,
how much less are you able to comprehend the counsel
of God?
38:20 That thou n shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and
that thou shouldest know the paths [to] the house thereof?
(n) That you might appoint its highways and limits.
38:23 Which I have reserved o against the time of trouble,
against the day of battle and war?
