Job 38

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

And YHWH answers Job out of the whirlwind and says:

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

“Who [is] this—darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?

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

Now gird your loins as a man, And I ask you, and you cause Me to know.

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

Where were you when I founded the earth? Declare, if you have known understanding.

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

Who placed its measures—if you know? Or who has stretched out a line on it?

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

On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who has cast its cornerstone—

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

In the singing together of [the] stars of morning, When all [the] sons of God shout 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 He shuts up the sea with doors, In its coming forth, it goes out from the womb.

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

In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,

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

And I measure My statute over it, And place bar and doors,

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

And say, To here you come, and no more, And a command is placed On the pride of your billows.

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

Have you commanded morning since your days? Do you cause 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?

To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,

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

It turns itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.

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

And their light is withheld from the wicked, And the arm lifted up is broken.

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

Have you come to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Have you walked up and down?

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 revealed to you? And do you see the gates of death-shade?

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

You have understanding, Even to the broad places of earth! Declare—if you have known it all.

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

Where [is] this—the way light dwells? And darkness, where [is] this—its place?

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

That you take it to its boundary, And that you understand the paths of its house.

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

You have known—for then you are born, And the number of your days [are] many!

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

Have you come to the treasure of snow? Indeed, do you see the treasures of hail,

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

That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle?

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

Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scatters an east wind over the earth.

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

Who has divided a conduit for the flood? And a way for the lightning of the voices?

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 a land [with] no man, A wilderness [with] no man in it.

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

To satisfy a desolate and ruined place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?

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

Does the rain have a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?

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

From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoarfrost of the heavens, Who has begotten it?

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

Waters are hidden as a stone, And the face of the deep is captured.

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

Do you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Or do you open the cords of Orion?

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

Do you bring out the twelve signs in [their] season? And do you comfort the Great Bear over her sons?

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

Have you known the statutes of the heavens? Or do you appoint Its dominion in the earth?

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

Do you lift up your voice to the cloud, And abundance of water covers you?

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

Do you send out lightnings, and they go And say to you, Behold us?

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

Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the covered part?

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

Who numbers the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who causes to lie down,

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

In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?

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

Do you hunt prey for a lion? And fulfill the desire of young lions?

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

When they bow down in dens—Abide in a thicket for a covert?

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

Who prepares for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry to God? They wander without food.”