Job 38

1 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2 Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Who is this that darkens 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 your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.

4 Where were thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou have understanding.

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined the measures of it, if thou know? Or who stretched the line upon it?

Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched the line upon it?

6 Upon what were the foundations of it fastened? Or who laid the cornerstone of it

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

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,

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued 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 the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it,

10 and marked out for it my bound, and set bars and doors,

And brake up for it my decreed place, 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, Until now shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves be stayed?

12 Have thou commanded the morning since thy days began, and caused the dayspring to know its place

Have you commanded the morning since your days; and caused the dayspring to know his 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, that 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 turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm is broken.

And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Have thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or have thou walked in the recesses of the deep?

Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in the search of the depth?

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 opened unto you? or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Have thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou know it all.

Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if you know 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 where light dwells? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

20 that thou should take it to the bound of it, and that thou should discern the paths to the house of it?

That you should take it to the bound thereof, and that you should know the paths to the house thereof?

21 Thou know, for thou were born then, and the number of thy days is great!

Know you it, because you were then born? or because the number of your days is great?

22 Have thou entered the treasuries of the snow, or have thou seen the treasures of the hail,

Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? or have you seen the treasures of the hail,

23 which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against 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, which scatters the east wind upon the earth?

25 Who has cleft a channel for the water flood, or the way for the lightning of the thunder,

Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

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 man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no 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 bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28 Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?

Has the rain a father? or who has begotten 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 came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it?

30 The waters hide themselves and become like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 Can thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32 Can thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or can thou guide the Bear with her train?

Can you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or can you guide Arcturus with his sons?

33 Do thou know the ordinances of the heavens? Can thou establish the dominion of it on the earth?

Know you the ordinances of heaven? can you set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34 Can thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?

35 Can thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say to thee, Here we are?

Can you send lightnings, that they may go and say unto you, Here we are?

36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?

Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven

Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38 when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?

When the dust grows into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Can thou hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions

Will you hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 when they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert 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 provides for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of food.