Job 38
1 Then the Lord answered Job out of a whirlwind, and said:
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that wrappeth up sentences in unskillful words?
Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up thy loins like a man: I will ask thee, and answer thou me.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid up the foundations of the earth? tell me if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Upon what are its bases grounded? or who laid the corner stone thereof,
Whereupon are 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 melody?
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth as 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 a cloud the garment thereof, and wrapped it in a mist as in swaddling bands?
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10 I set my bounds around it, and made it bars and doors:
And brake up for it my decreed [place], and set bars and doors,
11 And I said: Hitherto thou shalt come, and shalt go no further, and here thou shalt break thy swelling waves.
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Didst thou since thy birth command the morning, and shew the dawning of the day its place?
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; [and] caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 And didst thou hold the extremities of the earth shaking them, and hast thou shaken the ungodly out of it?
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 The seal shall be restored as clay, and shall stand as a garment:
It is turned as clay [to] the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 From the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the high arm shall be broken.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the depths of the sea, and walked in the lowest parts of the deep?
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
17 Have the gates of death been opened to thee, and hast thou seen the darksome doors?
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Hast thou considered the breadth of the earth? tell me, if thou knowest all things?
Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth, and where is the place of darkness:
Where [is] the way [where] light dwelleth? and [as for] darkness, where [is] the place thereof,
20 That thou mayst bring every thing to its own bounds, and understand the paths of the house thereof.
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths [to] the house thereof?
21 Didst thou know then that thou shouldst be born? and didst thou know the number of thy days?
Knowest thou [it], because thou wast then born? or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?
22 Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, or has thou beheld the treasures of the hail:
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have prepared for the time of the enemy, against 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 spread, and heat divided upon the earth?
By what way is the light parted, [which] scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who gave a course to violent showers, or a way for noisy thunder:
Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 That it should rain on the earth without man in the wilderness, where no mortal dwelleth:
To cause it to rain on the earth, [where] no man [is; on] the wilderness, wherein [there is] no man;
27 That it should fill the desert and desolate land, and should bring forth green grass?
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 begot the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice; and the frost from heaven who hath gendered it?
Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 The waters are hardened like a stone, and the surface of the deep is congealed.
The waters are hid as [with] a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Shalt thou be able to join together the shining stars the Pleiades, or canst thou stop the turning about of Arcturus?
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth the day star in its time, and make the evening star to rise upon the children of the earth?
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Dost thou know the order of heaven, and canst thou set down the reason thereof on the earth?
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that an abundance of waters may cover thee?
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Canst thou send lightnings, and will they go, and will they return and say to thee: Here we are?
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we [are]?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the heart of man? or who gave the cock understanding?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can declare the order of the heavens, or who can make the harmony of heaven to sleep?
Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 When was the dust poured on the earth, and the clods fastened together?
When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Wilt thou take the prey for the lioness, and satisfy the appetite of her whelps,
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in the dens and lie in wait in holes?
When they couch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provideth food for the raven, when her young ones cry to God, wandering about, because they have no meat?
Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
