A reading from
the Book of Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5
The Lord addressed Job out of the storm and said:
Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning/ and shown the dawn its place/ For taking hold of the ends of the earth,/ till the wicked are shaken from its surface?/ The earth is changed as is clay by the seal,/ and dyed as though it were a garment;/ But from the wicked the light is withheld,/ and the arm of pride is shattered.
Have you entered into the sources of the sea,/ or walked about in the depths of the abyss?/ Have the gates of death been shown to you,/ or have you seen the gates of darkness?/ Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?/ Tell me, if you know all:/ Which is the way to the dwelling place of light,/ and where is the abode of darkness,/ That you may take them to their boundaries/ and set them on their homeward paths?/ You know, because you were born before them,/ and the number of your years is great!
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?/ I put my hand over my mouth./ Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;/ though twice, I will do so no more.
The word of the Lord.
