Job 38
1 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: —
2 Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Who [is] this — darkening 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, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.
4 Where were thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou have understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.
5 Who determined the measures of it, if thou know? Or who stretched the line upon it?
Who placed its measures — if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?
6 Upon what were the foundations of it fastened? Or who laid the cornerstone of it
On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?
7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors when it broke forth, like it had issued out of the womb,
And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out.
9 when I made clouds the garment of it, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and marked out for it my bound, and set bars and doors,
And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,
11 and said, This far thou shall come, but no farther, and here thy proud waves shall be stayed?
And say, 'Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'
12 Have thou commanded the morning since thy days began, and caused the dayspring to know its place
Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou 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?
To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,
14 It is changed as clay under the seal, and all things stand forth as a garment.
It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.
15 And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm is broken.
And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.
16 Have thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or have thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to thee? Or have thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?
18 Have thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou know it all.
Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare — if thou hast known it all.
19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place of it
Where [is] this — the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where [is] this — 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 dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.
21 Thou know, for thou were born then, and the number of thy days is great!
Thou hast known — for then thou art born And the number of thy days [are] many!
22 Have thou entered the treasuries of the snow, or have thou seen the treasures of the hail,
Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?
23 which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle.
24 By what way is the light divided, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.
25 Who has cleft a channel for the water flood, or the way for the lightning of the thunder,
Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?
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 — no man, A wilderness — no man in it.
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, and to cause the tender grass to spring forth?
To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?
28 Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who has engendered it?
From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?
30 The waters hide themselves and become like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.
31 Can thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?
32 Can thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or can thou guide the Bear with her train?
Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?
33 Do thou know the ordinances of the heavens? Can thou establish the dominion of it on the earth?
Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?
34 Can thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?
35 Can thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say to thee, Here we are?
Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, 'Behold us?'
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven
Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,
38 when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?
39 Can thou hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions
Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?
40 when they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
When they bow down in dens — Abide in a thicket for a covert?
41 Who provides for the raven his prey when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.
