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13 For who knows God’s counsel,
    or who can conceive what the Lord intends?(A)

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'Wisdom 9:13' not found for the version: New International Version.

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord[a]
    or who has been his counselor?”(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 11:34 The citation is from the Greek text of Is 40:13. Paul does not explicitly mention Isaiah in this verse, nor Job in Rom 11:35.

34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:34 Isaiah 40:13

16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?” But we have the mind of Christ.(A)

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16 for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord
    so as to instruct him?”[a](A)

But we have the mind of Christ.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 2:16 Isaiah 40:13

VIII. The Lord and Job Meet

Chapter 38

Then the Lord[a] answered Job out of the storm and said:

Who is this who darkens counsel
    with words of ignorance?
Gird up your loins[b] now, like a man;
    I will question you, and you tell me the answers!(A)
Where were you when I founded the earth?
    Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its size? Surely you know?
    Who stretched out the measuring line for it?
Into what were its pedestals sunk,
    and who laid its cornerstone,
While the morning stars sang together
    and all the sons of God[c] shouted for joy?
Who shut within doors the sea,
    when it burst forth from the womb,(B)
When I made the clouds its garment
    and thick darkness its swaddling bands?
10 When I set limits for it
    and fastened the bar of its door,
11 And said: Thus far shall you come but no farther,
    and here shall your proud waves stop?

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Footnotes

  1. 38:1 Now the Lord enters the debate and addresses two discourses (chaps. 38–39 and 40–41) to Job, speaking of divine wisdom and power. Such things are altogether beyond the capacity of Job. Out of the storm: frequently the background of the appearances of the Lord in the Old Testament; cf. Ps 18; 50; Na 1:3; Hb 3:2–15.
  2. 38:3 Gird up your loins: prepare for combat—figuratively, be ready to defend yourself in debate.
  3. 38:7 Sons of God: see note on 1:6.

The Lord Speaks

38 Then the Lord spoke to Job(A) out of the storm.(B) He said:

“Who is this that obscures my plans(C)
    with words without knowledge?(D)
Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.(E)

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?(F)
    Tell me, if you understand.(G)
Who marked off its dimensions?(H) Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line(I) across it?
On what were its footings set,(J)
    or who laid its cornerstone(K)
while the morning stars(L) sang together(M)
    and all the angels[a](N) shouted for joy?(O)

“Who shut up the sea behind doors(P)
    when it burst forth from the womb,(Q)
when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,(R)
10 when I fixed limits for it(S)
    and set its doors and bars in place,(T)
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;(U)
    here is where your proud waves halt’?(V)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 38:7 Hebrew the sons of God