Job 38

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

And after Elius had ceased from speaking, the Lord spoke to Job through the whirlwind and clouds, [saying],

2 Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Who is this that hides counsel from me, and confines words in [his] heart, and thinks to conceal [them] from me?

3 Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.

Gird your loins like a man; and I will ask you, and do you answer me.

4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.

Where was you when I founded the earth? tell me now, if you have knowledge,

5 Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched the line on it?

who set the measures of it, if you know? or who stretched a line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

On what are its rings fastened? and who is he that laid the corner-stone upon it?

7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

When the stars were made, all my angels praised me with a loud voice.

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

And I shut up the sea with gates, when it rushed out, coming forth out its mother's womb.

9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling cloth for it,

And I made a cloud its clothing, and swathed it in mist.

10 And broke up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

And I set bounds to it, surrounding it with bars and gates.

11 And said, Till now shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves be stayed?

And I said to it, Hitherto shall you come, but you shall not go beyond, but your waves shall be confined within you.

12 Have you commanded the morning since your days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

Or did I order the morning light in your time; and [did] the morning star [then first] see his appointed place;

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

to lay hold of the extremities of the earth, to cast out the ungodly out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

Or did you take clay of the ground, and form a living creature, and set it with the power of speech upon the earth?

15 And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.

And have you removed light from the ungodly, and crushed the arm of the proud?

16 Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in the search of the depth?

Or have you gone to the source of the sea, and walked in the tracks of the deep?

17 Have the gates of death been opened to you? or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?

And do the gates of death open to you for fear; and did the porters of hell quake when they saw you? (questioned)

18 Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if you know it all.

And have you been instructed in the breadth of the [whole earth] under heaven? tell me now, what is the extent of it?

19 Where is the way where light dwells? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

And in what kind of a land does the light dwell? and of what kind is the place of darkness?

20 That you should take it to the bound thereof, and that you should know the paths to the house thereof?

If you could bring me to their [utmost] boundaries, and if also you know their paths;

21 Know you it, because you were then born? or because the number of your days is great?

I know then that you were born at that time, and the number of your years is great.

22 Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? or have you seen the treasures of the hail,

But have you gone to the treasures of snow? and have you seen the treasures of hail?

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

And is there a store [of them], for you against the time of [your] enemies, for the day of wars and battle?

24 By what way is the light parted, which scatters the east wind on the earth?

And whence proceeds the frost? or [whence] is the south wind dispersed over the [whole world] under heaven?

25 Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

And who prepared a course for the violent rain, and a way for the thunders;

26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

to rain upon the land where [there is] no man, the wilderness, where there is not a man in it; so as to feed the untrodden and uninhabited [land],

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

and cause it to send forth a crop of green herbs?

28 Has the rain a father? or who has begotten the drops of dew?

Who is the rain's father? and who has generated the drops of dew?

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it?

And out of whose womb comes the ice? and who has produced the frost in the sky,

30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

which descends like flowing water? who has terrified the face of the ungodly?

31 Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

And do you understand the band of Pleias, and have you opened the barrier of Orion?

32 Can you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or can you guide Arcturus with his sons?

Or will you reveal Mazuroth in his season, and the evening star with his rays? Will you guide them?

33 Know you the ordinances of heaven? can you set the dominion thereof in the earth?

And know you the changes of heaven, or the events which take place together under heaven?

34 Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?

And will you call a cloud with your voice, and will it obey you with a violent shower of much rain?

35 Can you send lightning, that they may go and say to you, Here we are?

And will you send lightnings, and they shall go? and shall they say to you, What is [your pleasure]?

36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart?

And who has given to women skill in weaving, or knowledge of embroidery?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

And who is he that numbers the clouds in wisdom, and has bowed the heaven [down] to the earth?

38 When the dust grows into hardness, and the clods stuck fast together?

For it is spread out as dusty earth, and I have cemented it as one hewn stone to another.

39 Will you hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

And will you hunt a prey for the lions? and satisfy the desires of the serpents?

40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

For they fear in their lairs, and lying in wait couch in the woods.

41 Who provides for the raven his food? when his young ones cry to God, they wander for lack of meat.

And who has prepared food for the raven? for its young ones wander and cry to the Lord, in search of food.