< Job 38 >

1 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2 Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man, for I will demand of thee, and declare thou to me.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
4 Where were thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou have understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who determined the measures of it, if thou know? Or who stretched the line upon it?
Who set the measures thereof — if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
6 Upon what were the foundations of it fastened? Or who laid the cornerstone of it
Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,
7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors when it broke forth, like it had issued out of the womb,
And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb?
9 when I made clouds the garment of it, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;
10 and marked out for it my bound, and set bars and doors,
When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,
11 and said, This far thou shall come, but no farther, and here thy proud waves shall be stayed?
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Have thou commanded the morning since thy days began, and caused the dayspring to know its place
Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou 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?
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is changed as clay under the seal, and all things stand forth as a garment.
It is changed like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:
15 And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm is broken.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
16 Have thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or have thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to thee? Or have thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? and hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Have thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou know it all.
Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place of it
Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,
20 that thou should take it to the bound of it, and that thou should discern the paths to the house of it?
That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?
21 Thou know, for thou were born then, and the number of thy days is great!
Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 Have thou entered the treasuries of the snow, or have thou seen the treasures of the hail,
Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
23 which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light divided, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
By what way is the light parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 Who has cleft a channel for the water flood, or the way for the lightning of the thunder,
Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;
26 to cause it to rain on a land where no man is, on the wilderness, in which there is no man,
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man;
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, and to cause the tender grass to spring forth?
To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground], and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth?
28 Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? or who begetteth the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who has engendered it?
Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?
30 The waters hide themselves and become like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.
31 Can thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
32 Can thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or can thou guide the Bear with her train?
Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?
33 Do thou know the ordinances of the heavens? Can thou establish the dominion of it on the earth?
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
34 Can thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee?
35 Can thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say to thee, Here we are?
Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven
Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,
38 when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Can thou hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions
Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
When they crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?
41 Who provides for the raven his prey when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, [and] they wander for lack of meat?

< Job 38 >