Job 38
1 And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: —
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Who [is] this — darkening 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, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.
4 Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.
5 Who set the measures thereof — if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
Who placed its measures — if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?
6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,
On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,
8 And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb?
And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out.
9 When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;
In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,
And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
And say, 'Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'
12 Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou caused the dawn to know its place,
Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou 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?
To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,
14 It is changed like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:
It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.
16 Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? and hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?
18 Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare — if thou hast known it all.
19 Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,
Where [is] this — the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where [is] this — its place?
20 That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?
That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.
21 Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
Thou hast known — for then thou art born And the number of thy days [are] many!
22 Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?
23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war?
That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle.
24 By what way is the light parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?
Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.
25 Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;
Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?
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 — no man, A wilderness — no man in it.
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground], and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth?
To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce 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 dew?
29 Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?
From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?
30 When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.
As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.
31 Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?
32 Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?
Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?
34 Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee?
Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?
35 Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, 'Behold us?'
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?
Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?
37 Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,
Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,
38 When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?
39 Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?
40 When they crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?
When they bow down in dens — Abide in a thicket for a covert?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, [and] they wander for lack of meat?
Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.
