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 darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched the line on it?
Who set the measures thereof — if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
6 Whereupon are 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, as if it had 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 swaddling cloth for it,
When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;
10 And broke up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Till now shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves be stayed?
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Have you commanded the morning since your days; and caused the dayspring to know his 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, that the wicked might 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 turned as clay to 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 And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
16 Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in the search of the depth?
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 opened to you? or have you seen the doors 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 Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if you know it all.
Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwells? 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 you should take it to the bound thereof, and that you should 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 Know you it, because you were then born? or because the number of your days is great?
Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? or have you seen the treasures 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, which scatters the east wind on the earth?
By what way is the light parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of 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 the earth, 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 Has the rain a father? or who has 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 hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it?
Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?
30 The waters are hid as with a 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 Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
32 Can you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or can you guide Arcturus with his sons?
Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?
33 Know you the ordinances of heaven? can you set the dominion thereof in the earth?
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
34 Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee?
35 Can you send lightning, that they may go and say to you, Here we are?
Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,
38 When the dust grows into hardness, and the clods stuck fast together?
When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Will you hunt the prey for the lion? or fill 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 provides for the raven his food? when his young ones cry to God, they wander for lack of meat.
Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, [and] they wander for lack of meat?
