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15 And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.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