Job 38
1 But the Lord, responding to Job from a whirlwind, said:
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 Who is this that wraps sentences in unskilled words?
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.
4 Where were you, when I set the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast the understanding.
5 Who set its measurements, if you know, or who stretched a line over it?
Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 Upon what have its bases been grounded, and who set forth its cornerstone,
Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
7 when the morning stars praised me together, and all the sons of God made a joyful noise?
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Who enclosed the sea with doors, when it broke forth as if issuing from the womb,
Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, and issued out of the womb;
9 when I stationed a cloud as its garment and wrapped it in a mist as if swaddling an infant?
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10 I encircled it with my limits, and I positioned its bars and doors.
And prescribed for it My decree, and set bars and doors,
11 And I said: “This far you will approach, and you will proceed no further, and here you will break your swelling waves.”
And said: 'Thus far shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed'?
12 Did you, after your birth, command the birth of the sun and show the sunrise its place?
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began, and caused the dayspring to know its place;
13 And did you hold the extremities of the earth, shaking them, and have you shaken the impious out of it?
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 The seal will be restored like clay, and it will remain in place like a garment.
It is changed as clay under the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 From the impious, the light will be taken away, and the exalted arm will be broken.
But from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm is broken.
16 Have you entered the depths of the sea, and have you taken a walk in the uttermost parts of the abyss?
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been opened to you, and have you seen the doors of darkness?
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Have you considered the breadth of the earth? If you know all things, reveal them to me.
Hast thou surveyed unto the breadths of the earth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.
19 Which is the way that holds the light, and which is the place of darkness?
Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and as for darkness, where is the place thereof;
20 In this way, you might lead each thing to its final place, and understand the paths of its house.
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21 So then, did you know when you were to be born? And did you know the number of your days?
Thou knowest it, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 Have you been admitted into the storehouses of the snows, and have you gazed upon the stockpile of the brimstone,
Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
23 which I have prepared for the time of the enemy, for the day of the battle and the war?
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 In what way is the light scattered, and the heat distributed, over the earth?
By what way is the light parted, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 Who gave a course to the rainstorms, and a path to the resounding thunder,
Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, or a way for the lightning of the thunder;
26 so that it would rain on the earth far from man, in the wilderness where no mortal lingers,
To cause it to rain on a land where no man is, on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 so that it would fill impassable and desolate places, and would bring forth green plants?
To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Who is the father of rain, or who conceived the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb did the ice proceed, and who created the frost from the air?
Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoar-frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 The waters are hardened to become like stone, and the surface of the abyss freezes over.
The waters are congealed like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Will you have the strength to join together the sparkling stars of the Pleiades, or are you able to disperse the circling of Arcturus?
Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Can you bring forth the morning star, in its time, and make the evening star rise over the sons of the earth?
Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her sons?
33 Do you know the order of heaven, and can you explain its rules here on the earth?
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that an onslaught of waters will cover you?
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Can you send forth lightning bolts, and will they go, and on returning, say to you: “Here we are?”
Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee: 'Here we are'?
36 Who placed discernment in the guts of man, or who gave the rooster intelligence?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can describe the rules of the heavens, or who can put to rest the harmony of heaven?
Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When was the dust cast to become the earth, and when were its clods fastened together?
When the dust runneth into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Will you seize prey for the lioness, and will you sustain the lives of her young,
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness? Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 as they rest in their dens or lie in wait in pits?
When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provides the raven with its meal, when her chicks cry out to God, as they wander around because they have no food?
Who provideth for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry unto God, and wander for lack of food?
