Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
Then Jehovah 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; for I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.
Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast the understanding.
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?
Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
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 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, and issued 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 the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 And prescribed for it My decree, and set bars and doors,
marked out for it my bound, 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, 'Here you may come, but no further. Here your proud waves shall be stayed?'
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began, and caused the dayspring 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 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 as clay under the seal; and they stand as a garment.
It is changed as clay under the seal, and stands forth as a garment.
15 But from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm is broken.
From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or 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? Or 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 Hast thou surveyed unto 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 the dwelling of light, and as for darkness, where is the place thereof;
"What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for 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 you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
21 Thou knowest it, 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 the treasuries of the snow, or 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 against the time of trouble, 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 parted, or 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 cleft a channel for the waterflood, or a way for the lightning of the thunder;
Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm;
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 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 bud of the tender herb 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 hath begotten the drops of dew?
Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers 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 came the ice? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it?
30 The waters are congealed like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.
31 Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
"Can you fasten the chains of Kimah, or loosen the cords of Kesil?
32 Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst 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? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover you?
35 Canst 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 can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the sky,
38 When the dust runneth into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness? Or 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 couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
41 Who provideth for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry unto God, and wander for lack of food?
Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
