Job 38

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,

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

2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3 Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

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

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?

Who hath laid the measures of it, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone,

Upon what are the foundations of it fastened? 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 out of the womb,

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

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

When I made a cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

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

And broke up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11 and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’?

And said, Thus far shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 “Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place,

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know its place;

13 that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?

That it might take hold of the ends of earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is changed as clay under the seal, and presented as a garment.

It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15 From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.

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

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

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Have the gates of death been revealed to thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all.

Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

19 “What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,

Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is its place,

20 that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?

That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?

21 Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!

Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22 Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

Hast thou entered into the treasuries of the snow? or 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 against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

24 By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?

By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

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

Who hath 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 there is no man, on the wilderness, in which there is no man,

To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, in which there is no man;

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

To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28 Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?

Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew?

29 Whose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the gray frost of the sky?

Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

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

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

31 “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32 Can you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?

Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in its season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with its sons?

33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set its dominion on the earth?

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

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

35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?

Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say to 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 heart?

37 Who can count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,

Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can pour out the water bottles of heaven,

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

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

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

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?

When they crouch 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 provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry to God, they wander for want of food.