Job 38

1 And 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 darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

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

Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.

4 Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

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

5 Who set the measures thereof — if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?

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

6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,

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 And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing 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 the cloud its garment, 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 When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,

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

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

And said, Until now shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou caused the dawn 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 might 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 like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:

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

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.

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

16 Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast 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 unto thee? and hast 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 Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.

Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if you know it all.

19 Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,

Where is the way where light dwells? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

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

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

21 Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, 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 Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries 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 for the time of distress, for 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 parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?

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

25 Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;

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 the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a 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 desolate and waste [ground], and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth?

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

28 Hath the rain a father? or who begetteth the drops of dew?

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

29 Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?

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

30 When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.

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

31 Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?

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

32 Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?

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

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?

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

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

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

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

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

36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?

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

37 Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,

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

38 When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?

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

39 Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou 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 crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?

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

41 Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, [and] they wander for lack of meat?

Who provides for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of food.