Texts for Scriptural Reasoning Creation The Scriptural Reasoning Society
Job 38:1-20 1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: 2 "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. 4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation 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 On what were its bases sunk, 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 from the womb; 9 when I made clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors, 11 and said, `Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'? 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 skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? 14 It is changed like clay under the seal, and it is dyed like a garment. 15 From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken. 16 "Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this. 19 "Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, אויב 20-1:38 א ו יּ ע ן - י הו ה א ת - א יּוֹב, מנהסערה ) מ ן ה סּ ע ר ה ); ו יּ אמ ר. ב מ י ז ה, מ ח שׁ יך ע צ ה ב מ לּ ין -- בּ ל י - ד ע ת. ג א ז ר - נ א כ ג ב ר ח ל צ יך ; ו א שׁ אָל ך, ו הוֹד יע נ י. ד א יפ ה ה י י ת, בּ י ס ד י - אָר ץ ; ה גּ ד, א ם - י ד ע תּ ב ינ ה. ה מ י - שׂ ם מ מ דּ יה, כּ י ת ד ע ; אוֹ מ י - נ ט ה ע ל יה קּ ו. ו ע ל - מ ה, א ד נ יה ה ט בּ עוּ ; אוֹ מ י - י ר ה, א ב ן פּ נּ ת הּ. ז בּ ר ן - י ח ד, כּוֹכ ב י ב ק ר ; ו יּ ר יעוּ, כּ ל - בּ נ י א ל ה ים. ח ו יּ ס ך בּ ד ל ת י ם י ם ; בּ ג יחוֹ, מ ר ח ם י צ א. ט בּ שׂוּמ י ע נ ן ל ב שׁוֹ ; ו ע ר פ ל, ח ת לּ תוֹ. י ו א שׁ בּ ר ע ל יו ח קּ י ; ו אָשׂ ים, בּ ר יח וּד ל ת י ם. יא ו א מ ר -- ע ד - פּ ה ת בוֹא, ו ל א ת ס יף ; וּפ א - י שׁ ית, בּ ג אוֹן גּ לּ י ך. יב ה מ יּ מ י ך, צ וּ ית בּ ק ר ; ידעתה שחר ) י דּ ע תּ ה שּׁ ח ר ( מ ק מוֹ. יג ל א ח ז, בּ כ נ פוֹת ה אָר ץ ; ו י נּ ע רוּ ע ר שׁ ים מ מּ נּ ה. יד תּ ת ה פּ ך, כּ ח מ ר חוֹת ם ; ו י ת י צּ בוּ, כּ מוֹ ל בוּשׁ. ע טו ו י מּ נ ע מ ר שׁ ים אוֹר ם ; וּז רוֹע ר מ ה, תּ שּׁ ב ר. טז ה ב א ת, ע ד - נ ב כ י - י ם ; וּב ח ק ר תּ הוֹם, ה ת ה לּ כ תּ. יז ה נ ג לוּ ל ך, שׁ ע ר י - מ ו ת ; ו שׁ ע ר י צ ל מ ו ת תּ ר א ה. יח ה ת בּ נ נ תּ, ע ד - ר ח ב י - אָר ץ ; ה גּ ד, א ם - י ד ע תּ כ לּ הּ. יט א י - ז ה ה דּ ר ך, י שׁ כּ ן - אוֹר ; ו ח שׁ ך, א י - ז ה מ ק מוֹ. 1
20 that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? כ כּ י ת קּ ח נּוּ א ל - גּ בוּלוֹ ; נ ת יבוֹת בּ יתוֹ. ו כ י - ת ב ין, Job 40:1-9 1 And the LORD said to Job: 2 Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it." 3 Then Job answered the LORD: 4 "Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee? I lay my hand on my mouth. 5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further." 6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: 7 "Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you declare to me. 8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be justified? 9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? אויב 9-1:40 א ו יּ ע ן י הו ה א ת - א יּוֹב ; ו יּ אמ ר. ב ה ר ב, ע ם - שׁ דּ י י סּוֹר ; מוֹכ יח א לוֹהּ י ע נ נּ ה. ג ו יּ ע ן א יּוֹב א ת - י הו ה ; ו יּ אמ ר. ד ה ן ק לּ ת י, מ ה א שׁ יב ךּ ; י ד י, שׂ מ תּ י ל מוֹ - פ י. ה אַח ת דּ בּ ר תּ י, ו ל א א ע נ ה ; וּשׁ תּ י ם, ו ל א אוֹס יף. ו ו יּ ע ן - י הו ה א ת - א יּוֹב, מנסערה ) מ ן ס ע ר ה ); ו יּ אמ ר. ז א ז ר - נ א כ ג ב ר ח ל צ יך ; א שׁ אָל ך, ו הוֹד יע נ י. ח ה אַף, תּ פ ר מ שׁ פּ ט י ; תּ ר שׁ יע נ י, ל מ ע ן תּ צ דּ ק. ט ו א ם - ז רוֹע כּ א ל ל ך ; וּב קוֹל, כּ מ הוּ ת ר ע ם. 2
Romans 1:16-32 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; 21 for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, Προς Ρωµαιους 1:16-32 16 ου γαρ επαισχυνοµαι το ευαγγελ ιον, δυναµις γαρ θεου εστιν εις σω τηριαν παντι τω πιστευοντι, ιουδα ιω τε πρωτον και ελληνι: 17 δικαιοσυνη γαρ θεου εν αυτω απ οκαλυπτεται εκ πιστεως εις πιστιν, καθως γεγραπται, ο δε δικαιος εκ πιστεως ζησεται. 18 αποκαλυπτεται γαρ οργη θεου απ ουρανου επι πασαν ασεβειαν και αδικιαν ανθρωπων των την αληθε ιαν εν αδικια κατεχοντων, 19 διοτι το γνωστον του θεου φανερ ον εστιν εν αυτοις: ο θεος γαρ αυτ οις εφανερωσεν. 20 τα γαρ αορατα αυτου απο κτισε ως κοσµου τοις ποιηµασιν νοουµε να καθοραται, η τε αιδιος αυτου δυναµις και θειοτης, εις το ειναι αυτους αναπολογητους: 21 διοτι γνοντες τον θεον ουχ ως θε ον εδοξασαν η ηυχαριστησαν, αλλ εµαταιωθησαν εν τοις διαλογισµο ις αυτων και εσκοτισθη η ασυνε τος αυτων καρδια. 22 φασκοντες ειναι σοφοι εµωρανθ ησαν, 23 και ηλλαξαν την δοξαν του αφθ αρτου θεου εν οµοιωµατι εικονος φθαρτου ανθρωπου και πετεινων και τετραποδων και ερπετων. 24 διο παρεδωκεν αυτους ο θεος εν ταις επιθυµιαις των καρδιων αυτων εις ακαθαρσιαν του ατιµαζεσθαι τα σωµατα αυτων εν αυτοις, 25 οιτινες µετηλλαξαν την αληθειαν του θεου εν τω ψευδει, και εσεβα σθησαν και ελατρευσαν τη κτισει παρα τον κτισαντα, ος εστιν ευλο γητος εις τους αιωνας: αµην. 26 δια τουτο παρεδωκεν αυτους ο θεος εις παθη ατιµιας: αι τε γαρ θηλειαι αυτων µετηλλαξαν την φυσικην χρησιν εις την παρα φυσιν 3
27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error. 28And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. 29 They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them. 27 οµοιως τε και οι αρσενες αφεντες την φυσικην χρησιν της θηλειας εξεκαυθησαν εν τη ορεξει αυτων εις αλληλους, αρσενες εν αρσεσιν την ασχηµοσυνην κατεργαζοµενοι και την αντιµισθιαν ην εδει της πλανης αυτων εν εαυτοις απολαµ βανοντες. 28 και καθως ουκ εδοκιµασαν τον θεον εχειν εν επιγνωσει, παρεδωκεν αυτους ο θεος εις αδοκιµον νουν, ποιειν τα µη καθηκοντα, 29 πεπληρωµενους παση αδικια πο νηρια πλεονεξια κακια, µεστους φθονου φονου εριδος δολου κακο ηθειας, ψιθυριστας, 30 καταλαλους, θεοστυγεις, υβριστ ας, υπερηφανους, αλαζονας, εφευ ρετας κακων, γονευσιν απειθεις, 31 ασυνετους, ασυνθετους, αστοργ ους, ανελεηµονας: 32 οιτινες το δικαιωµα του θεου επι γνοντες, οτι οι τα τοιαυτα πρασσο ντες αξιοι θανατου εισιν, ου µονον αυτα ποιουσιν αλλα και συνευδο κουσιν τοις πρασσουσιν. 4
Thunder (Quran 13:1-4) 1 Elif. Lam. Mim. Ra 1. These, the signs 2 of the Book! And that which hath been sent down to thee from thy Lord is the very truth: But the greater part of men will not believe. 2 It is God who hath reared the Heavens without pillars thou canst behold; then mounted his throne, and imposed laws on the sun and moon: each travelleth to its appointed goal 3. He ordereth all things 4. He maketh his signs clear 5, that ye may have firm faith in a meeting with your Lord. 3 And He it is who hath outstretched the earth, and placed on it the firm mountains, and rivers: and of every fruit He hath placed on it two kinds: He causeth the night to enshroud the day. Verily in this are signs for those who reflect. 4 And on the earth hard by each other are its various portions: gardens of grapes and corn, and palm trees single or clustered. Though watered by the same water, yet some make we more excellent as food than other: Verily in all this are signs for those who understand. 5 If ever thou dost marvel, marvellous surely is their saying, "What! Then we have become dust, shall we be restored in a new creation?" These are they who in their Lord believe not: these! The collars shall be on their necks; and these shall be inmates of the fire, to abide therein for aye. 1 The muqatta at are the cryptic letters appended to start of certain suras 2 ayat verses/signs here clearly referring initially to the written verse 3 li-ajalin musamma named/appointed period 4 yudabbiru al-amra decrees forth his ruling 5 yufassilu al-ayat clarifies/sets out the signs سورة الرعد ٥ ۱ المر ت لك ا ي ات ا لك ت اب و ا لذ ي ا ن زل ا لي ك م ن ر ب ك ا لح ق و لك ن ا كث ر الن اس لا ي و م ن ون ۱ ال له ا لذ ي ر فع الس م او ات بغ ي ر ع م د ت ر و ن ه ا ثم اس ت و ى ع لى ا لع ر ش و س خ ر الش م س و ا ل قم ر ك ل ي ج ري لا ج ل م س م ى ي د ب ر الا م ر ي فص ل الا ي ات لع لك م بل قاء ر ب كم ت وق ن ون ۲ و ه و ا لذ ي م د الا ر ض و ج ع ل ف يه ا ر و اس ي و ا ن ه ار ا و م ن كل ال ثم ر ات ج ع ل ف يه ا ز و ج ي ن ا ثن ي ن ي غ ش ي ال لي ل الن ه ار ا ن ف ي ذ ل ك ل ا ي ات لق و م ي ت فك ر ون ۳ و ف ي الا ر ض ق طع م ت ج ا ور ات و ج ن ات م ن ا ع ن اب و ز ر ع و ن خ يل ص ن و ان و غي ر ص ن و ان ي س قى بم اء و اح د و ن فض ل ب ع ض ه ا ع لى ب ع ض ف ي الا ك ل ا ن ف ي ذ ل ك ل ا ي ات لق و م ي ع ق ل ون ٤ و ا ن ت ع ج ب فع ج ب ق و ل ه م ا ي ذا كن ا ت ر اب ا ا ي ن ا لف ي خ لق ج د يد ا و لي ك ا لذ ين كف ر و ا ب ر ب هم و ا و لي ك الا غ لا ل ف ي ا ع ن اق هم و ا و لي ك ا ص ح اب الن ار ه م ف يه ا خ ال دون ٥ 5
The Prophets (Quran 21:30-35) 30 Do not the infidels see that the heavens and the earth were both a solid mass 6, and that we clave them asunder 7, and that by means of water we give life to everything? Will they not then believe? 31 And we set mountains on the earth lest it should move with them, and we made on it broad passages between them as routes for their guidance; 32 And we made the heaven a roof strongly upholden; yet turn they away from its signs 8. 33 And He it is who hath created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, each moving swiftly in its sphere. 34 At no time have we granted to man a life that shall last for ever: if thou then die, shall they live for ever? 35 Every soul shall taste of death: and for trial will we prove you with evil and with good; and unto Us shall ye be brought back. سورة الا نبياء ۳٥ ۳۰ ا و لم ي ر ا لذ ين كف ر وا ا ن الس م او ات و ال ا ر ض ك ان ت ا ر ت ق ا ف فت قن اه م ا و ج ع لن ا م ن ا لم اء كل ش ي ء ح ي ا فل ا ي و م ن ون ۳۰ و ج ع لن ا ف ي ال ا ر ض ر و اس ي ا ن ت م يد ب هم و ج ع لن ا ف يه ا ف ج اج ا س ب ل ا لع ل ه م ي ه ت د ون ۳۱ و ج ع لن ا الس م اء س قف ا م ح ف وظ ا و ه م ع ن ا ي ات ه ا م ع رض ون ۳۲ و ه و ا لذ ي خ ل ق ال لي ل و الن ه ار و الش م س و ا ل قم ر ك ل ف ي فل ك ي س ب ح ون ۳۳ و م ا ج ع لن ا ل ب ش ر م ن قب ل ك ا لخ لد ا ف ا ن م ت ف ه م ا لخ ال د ون ۳٤ ك ل ن ف س ذاي قة ا لم و ت و ن ب ل وك م ب الش ر و ا لخ ي ر ف ت ن ة و ا لي ن ا ت ر ج ع ون ۳٥ 6 ratqan bundle connoting tangled heterogeneity 7 fa-fataqnahuma created/split/burst them both the Arabic here carrying the sense both of suddenness, vigour and creative power 8 ayatan The word ayah is used extensively in the Quran, referring interchangeably to verses of the Quran itself and to the signs of revelation in creation, implying continuity between scriptural and natural revelation 6