Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Then did the Lord address Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Who is this that casteth darkness [on my] counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.
Do but gird up like a mighty man thy loins: and I will ask thee, and do thou inform me.
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell it, if thou hast any understanding [of it].
5 Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched the line on it?
Who fixed her measurements, if thou knowest it? or who stretched the measuring-line over her?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Upon what are her foundation-pillars placed at rest? or who laid her corner-stone:
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
When altogether sang the morning stars in gladness, and shouted for joy all the sons of God?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
And who closed up with doors the sea, when, issuing forth, it came out of the deep bosom of the earth?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling cloth for it,
When I made the clouds its garment, and thick fog its swaddling-cloth,
10 And broke up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
And when I decreed for it my law, and set [for it] bars and doors,
11 And said, Till now shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves be stayed?
And said, Thus far mayest thou come, but no farther; and here shall be stayed [thy strength] in the pride of thy waves?
12 Have you commanded the morning since your days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
Didst thou ever, in all thy days, command the morning; didst thou ever assign the morning-dawn 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 lay hold of the ends of the earth, so that the wicked might be shaken out therefrom?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
She is changed as the sealing-clay: and [all things] stand as though newly clad.
15 And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.
And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.
16 Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in the search of the depth?
Didst thou ever penetrate as far as the springs of the sea? or wander through the bottom of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been opened to you? or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
Were the gates of death ever laid open unto thee? or canst thou see the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if you know it all.
Hast thou a clear understanding of the breadth of the earth? Tell it, 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 the spot where] the 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 mightest take each to its boundary, and that thou mightest mark the pathways to its house?
21 Know you it, because you were then born? or because the number of your days is great?
Thou [surely] knowest it; because 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,
Didst thou ever enter into the treasuries of the snow? or canst thou see 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 fight and battle?
24 By what way is the light parted, which scatters the east wind on the earth?
Where is the way [to the spot where] the light divideth itself, [where] the east wind is scattered over the earth?
25 Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
Who hath divided off watercourses for the overflowing rain, and a way for the lightning [that is followed by] thunders,
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
To bring rain on a land, void of men; on a wilderness wherein no son of earth [is found];
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
To satisfy waste and desolate lands; and to promote the growth of the tender grass?
28 Has the rain a father? or who has begotten the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it?
Out of whose womb cometh forth the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven—who giveth birth to it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
[When] like a stone the waters are congealed, and the face of the deep is bound in fetters?
31 Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou bind together the chains of the Pleiades, or loosen the bands of Orion?
32 Can you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or can you guide Arcturus with his sons?
Canst thou bring forth the constellations of the zodiac, each in its season? or canst thou guide the Bear with its young?
33 Know you the ordinances of heaven? can you set the dominion thereof in the earth?
Knowest thou the laws of heaven? or dost thou appoint its rule on the earth?
34 Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
Canst thou lift up to the clouds thy voice, that the abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Can you send lightning, that they may go and say to you, Here we are?
Canst thou send out lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here are we?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart?
Who hath put wisdom in the dark clouds? or who hath given understanding to the bright meteors?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
Who ordaineth the skies with wisdom? or who emptieth out the bottles of heaven.
38 When the dust grows into hardness, and the clods stuck fast together?
When the dust is poured out as molten metal, and the clods are made to cleave fast together?
39 Will you hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
Dost thou hunt for the lioness her prey? and suppliest thou the food for the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
When they are couched in their lairs, rest in the thicket, lying 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 provision? when his young ones cry unto God, and wander about for lack of food?
