Job 38
1 And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
Then did the Lord address Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Who is this that casteth darkness [on my] counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
Do but gird up like a mighty man thy loins: and I will ask thee, and do thou inform me.
4 Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell it, if thou hast any understanding [of it].
5 Who set the measures thereof — if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
Who fixed her measurements, if thou knowest it? or who stretched the measuring-line over her?
6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,
Upon what are her foundation-pillars placed at rest? or who laid her corner-stone:
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
When altogether sang the morning stars in gladness, and shouted for joy all the sons of God?
8 And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb?
And who closed up with doors the sea, when, issuing forth, it came out of the deep bosom of the earth?
9 When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;
When I made the clouds its garment, and thick fog its swaddling-cloth,
10 When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,
And when I decreed for it my law, and set [for it] bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
And said, Thus far mayest thou come, but no farther; and here shall be stayed [thy strength] in the pride of thy waves?
12 Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou caused the dawn to know its place,
Didst thou ever, in all thy days, command the morning; didst thou ever assign the morning-dawn its 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 lay hold of the ends of the earth, so that the wicked might be shaken out therefrom?
14 It is changed like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:
She is changed as the sealing-clay: and [all things] stand as though newly clad.
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.
16 Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
Didst thou ever penetrate as far as the springs of the sea? or wander through the bottom of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? and hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Were the gates of death ever laid open unto thee? or canst thou see the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
Hast thou a clear understanding of the breadth of the earth? Tell it, if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,
Where is the way [to the spot where] the light dwelleth? and the darkness—where is its place,
20 That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?
That thou mightest take each to its boundary, and that thou mightest mark the pathways to its house?
21 Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
Thou [surely] knowest it; because thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
Didst thou ever enter into the treasuries of the snow? or canst thou see the treasuries of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war?
Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of fight and battle?
24 By what way is the light parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?
Where is the way [to the spot where] the light divideth itself, [where] the east wind is scattered over the earth?
25 Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;
Who hath divided off watercourses for the overflowing rain, and a way for the lightning [that is followed by] thunders,
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man;
To bring rain on a land, void of men; on a wilderness wherein no son of earth [is found];
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground], and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth?
To satisfy waste and desolate lands; and to promote the growth of the tender grass?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who begetteth the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew?
29 Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?
Out of whose womb cometh forth the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven—who giveth birth to it?
30 When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.
[When] like a stone the waters are congealed, and the face of the deep is bound in fetters?
31 Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
Canst thou bind together the chains of the Pleiades, or loosen the bands of Orion?
32 Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?
Canst thou bring forth the constellations of the zodiac, each in its season? or canst thou guide the Bear with its young?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
Knowest thou the laws of heaven? or dost thou appoint its rule on the earth?
34 Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee?
Canst thou lift up to the clouds thy voice, that the abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
Canst thou send out lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here are we?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?
Who hath put wisdom in the dark clouds? or who hath given understanding to the bright meteors?
37 Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,
Who ordaineth the skies with wisdom? or who emptieth out the bottles of heaven.
38 When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
When the dust is poured out as molten metal, and the clods are made to cleave fast together?
39 Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
Dost thou hunt for the lioness her prey? and suppliest thou the food for the young lions,
40 When they crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?
When they are couched in their lairs, rest in the thicket, lying 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 provideth for the raven his provision? when his young ones cry unto God, and wander about for lack of food?
