Job 38
1 THEN the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: —
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Who [is] this — darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Gird, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Who placed its measures — if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out.
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
And say, 'Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou 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 turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?
18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare — if thou hast known it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
Where [is] this — the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where [is] this — its place?
20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.
21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
Thou hast known — for then thou art born And the number of thy days [are] many!
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?
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 scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.
25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? 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 — no man, A wilderness — 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 waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?
35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, 'Behold us?'
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,
38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?
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 provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.
