Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast the understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?
Who set the measures thereof — if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,
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 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, and issued out of the womb;
And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;
10 And prescribed for it My decree, and set bars and doors,
When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,
11 And said: 'Thus far shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed'?
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began, and caused the dayspring to know its place;
Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is changed as clay under the seal; and they stand as a garment.
It is changed like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:
15 But from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm is broken.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? and hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Hast thou surveyed unto the breadths of the earth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.
Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and as for darkness, where is the place thereof;
Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,
20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?
21 Thou knowest it, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
By what way is the light parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, or a way for the lightning of the thunder;
Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;
26 To cause it to rain on a land where no man is, on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground], and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? or who begetteth the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoar-frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?
30 The waters are congealed like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.
31 Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
32 Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her sons?
Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee?
35 Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee: 'Here we are'?
Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,
38 When the dust runneth into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness? Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
When they crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?
41 Who provideth for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry unto God, and wander for lack of food?
Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, [and] they wander for lack of meat?
