章：1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42
38:1 那时，耶和华从旋风中回答约伯说，
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
38:2 谁用无知的言语，使我的旨意暗昧不明。
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
38:3 你要如勇士束腰。我问你，你可以指示我。
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
38:4 我立大地根基的时候，你在那里呢。你若有聪明，只管说吧。
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
38:5 你若晓得就说，是谁定地的尺度。是谁把准绳拉在其上。
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
38:6 地的根基安置在何处。地的角石是谁安放的。
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
38:7 那时晨星一同歌唱，神的众子也都欢呼。
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
38:8 海水冲出，如出胎胞，那时谁将它关闭呢。
Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
38:9 是我用云彩当海的衣服，用幽暗当包裹它的布，
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
38:10 为它定界限，又安门和闩，
And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
38:11 说，你只可到这里，不可越过。你狂傲的浪要到此止住。
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
38:12 你自生以来，曾命定晨光，使清晨的日光知道本位。
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
38:13 叫这光普照地的四极，将恶人从其中驱逐出来吗。
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
38:14 因这光，地面改变如泥上印印，万物出现如衣服一样。
It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
38:15 亮光不照恶人，强横的膀臂也必折断。
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
38:16 你曾进到海源，或在深渊的隐密处行走吗。
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
38:17 死亡的门曾向你显露吗。死荫的门你曾见过吗。
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
38:18 地的广大你能明透吗。你若全知道，只管说吧。
Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
38:19 光明的居所从何而至。黑暗的本位在于何处。
Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
38:20 你能带到本境，能看明其室之路吗。
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
38:21 你总知道，因为你早已生在世上，你日子的数目也多。
Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
38:22 你曾进入雪库。或见过雹仓吗。
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
38:23 这雪雹乃是我为降灾，并打仗和争战的日子所预备的。
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
38:24 光亮从何路分开。东风从何路分散遍地。
By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
38:25 谁为雨水分道。谁为雷电开路。
Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
38:26 使雨降在无人之地，无人居住的旷野。
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
38:27 使荒废凄凉之地得以丰足，青草得以发生。
To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
38:28 雨有父吗。露水珠是谁生的呢。
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
38:29 冰出于谁的胎。天上的霜是谁生的呢。
Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
38:30 诸水坚硬（或作隐藏）如石头，深渊之面凝结成冰。
The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
38:31 你能系住昴星的结吗。能解开叁星的带吗。
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
38:32 你能按时领出十二宫吗。能引导北斗和随它的众星（星原文作子）吗。
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
38:33 你知道天的定例吗。能使地归在天的权下吗。
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
38:34 你能向云彩扬起声来，使倾盆的雨遮盖你吗。
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
38:35 你能发出闪电，叫它行去，使它对你说，我们在这里。
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
38:36 谁将智慧放在怀中。谁将聪明赐于心内。
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
38:37 谁能用智慧数算云彩呢。尘土聚集成团，土块紧紧结连。
Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38:38 那时，谁能倾倒天上的瓶呢。
When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
38:39 母狮子在洞中蹲伏，少壮狮子在隐密处埋伏。
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
38:40 你能为它们抓取食物，使它们饱足吗。
When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
38:41 乌鸦之雏因无食物飞来飞去，哀告神。那时，谁为它预备食物呢。
Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
约伯记38参考
神为何不直接回答约伯的问题呢？神要给约伯甚么启示？
38章 神从强大的风暴中说话。奇怪的是，他没有回答约伯的任何问题；约伯的问题并不是争论的核心。神用约伯忽略他在自然界中定的秩序，启示说约伯也忽视了他在道德上定的秩序。如果约伯不明白神物质上的创造工作，又怎么能明白神的心意和特性呢？没有比神更高的判断标准或尺度了，神自己就是标准。我们惟一的选择就是顺从他，并信赖他的看顾。
自然灾害都是神降下的惩罚吗？
38:22-23 神说他准备了雪雹库，是为著降灾时用的。神曾用冰雹帮助约书亚和以色列人战胜敌人（参书10:11）。就像军队在军械库储存武器一样，神掌握著自然界所有的力量，有时候他使用这些力量击溃那些反对他或他子民的人。约伯甚至不能对神所有的资源有所了解。
神是在考问约伯掌握了多少有关大自然的知识吗？
38:22-35 神统管所有自然界的力量，按他的意志发动或制止这些力量。没人能够完全理解雨或雪等普遍现象，而除了神以外，也没人能够控制它们。神的意思是说如果约伯不能解释自然界的这种普遍现象，他又怎么可能解释或质问神呢？如果连自然界都不在我们的掌握之中，那么神的心意更不可能是我们所能想像的。
你能从诗句中想像到神掌管大自然的威势吗？
38:31-32 这些是星系，它们都在神的掌管之下。