Job 38

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

Then YHWH answered Job out of the whirlwind,

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

"Who is this who 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.

Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer 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 determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?

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

Whereupon were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,

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 broke forth from the womb,

9 when I made clouds the garment of it, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,

when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,

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

marked out for it my bound, 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, 'Here you may come, but no further. Here your proud waves shall 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 in your days, and 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 farthest parts of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?

14 It is changed as clay under the seal, and all things stand forth as a garment.

It is changed as clay under the seal, and stands forth as a garment.

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

From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is 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 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 to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

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

Have you comprehended the earth in its breadth? 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

"What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for 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 you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?

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

Surely you know, for you were born then, and 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 the treasuries 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 lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?

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

Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm;

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 a land where no man is; on the wilderness, in which there is no man;

27 to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, and to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

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

Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers 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? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it?

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

The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.

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

"Can you fasten the chains of Kimah, or loosen the cords of Kesil?

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

Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or can you lead Aysh with her children?

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

Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over 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 forth lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to 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 mind?

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

Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the sky,

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

when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?

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

"Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or 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 lie in wait in the thicket?

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 prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?