Job 38:1-23; 42:1-5 (Vespers, 2nd reading)
- 1
- Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
- 2
- “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
- 3
- Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
- 4
- “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
- 5
- Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
- 6
- To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
- 7
- When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
- 8
- “Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb;
- 9
- When I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band;
- 10
- When 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 must stop!’
- 12
- “Have you 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 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 light is withheld, and the upraised arm is broken.
- 16
- “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?
- 17
- Have the gates of death been 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 the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail,
- 23
- Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?
- 1
- Then Job answered the Lord and said:
- 2
- “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
- 3
- You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
- 4
- Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’
- 5
- “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.