Job 38
1 And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
"Who is this who 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.
Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer 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 determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,
Whereupon were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
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 broke forth from the womb,
9 When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;
when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,
marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
and said, 'Here you may come, but no further. Here your proud waves shall 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 in your days, and caused the dawn to know 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 take hold of the farthest parts of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?
14 It is changed like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:
It is changed as clay under the seal, and stands forth as a garment.
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high 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?
"Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
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 revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
Have you comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if you know it all.
19 Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,
"What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for 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 you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
21 Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
Surely you know, for you were born then, and 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 the treasuries 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 lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?
25 Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;
Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm;
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 a land where no man is; on the wilderness, in which 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 waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who begetteth the drops of dew?
Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers 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? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it?
30 When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.
The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.
31 Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
"Can you fasten the chains of Kimah, or loosen the cords of Kesil?
32 Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?
Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or can you lead Aysh with her children?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over 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 forth lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to 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 mind?
37 Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,
Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the sky,
38 When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?
39 Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
"Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?
when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
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 prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
