Job 38

1 Then did the Lord address Job out of the storm-wind, 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 casteth darkness [on my] 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 Do but gird up like a mighty man thy loins: and I will ask thee, and do thou inform me.

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

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell it, if thou hast any understanding [of it].

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

5 Who fixed her measurements, if thou knowest it? or who stretched the measuring-line over her?

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

6 Upon what are her foundation-pillars placed at rest? or who laid her corner-stone:

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

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

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

8 And who closed up with doors the sea, when, issuing forth, it came out of the deep bosom of the earth?

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

9 When I made the clouds its garment, and thick fog its swaddling-cloth,

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

10 And when I decreed for it my law, and set [for it] bars and doors,

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

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

12 Didst thou ever, in all thy days, command the morning; didst thou ever assign the morning-dawn its 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 lay hold of the ends of the earth, so that the wicked might be shaken out therefrom?

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

14 She is changed as the sealing-clay: and [all things] stand as though newly clad.

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 is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.

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

16 Didst thou ever penetrate as far as the springs of the sea? or wander through the bottom of the deep?

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

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

18 Hast thou a clear understanding of the breadth of the earth? Tell it, if thou knowest 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 [to the spot where] the light dwelleth? and the darkness—where is its place,

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

20 That thou mightest take each to its boundary, and that thou mightest mark the pathways to its house?

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

21 Thou [surely] knowest it; because thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!

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

22 Didst thou ever enter into the treasuries of the snow? or canst thou see the treasuries 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 for the time of distress, for the day of fight and battle?

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

24 Where is the way [to the spot where] the light divideth itself, [where] the east wind is scattered over the earth?

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

25 Who hath divided off watercourses for the overflowing rain, and a way for the lightning [that is followed by] thunders,

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

26 To bring rain on a land, void of men; on a wilderness wherein no son of earth [is found];

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 waste and desolate lands; and to promote the growth of the tender grass?

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

28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew?

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

29 Out of whose womb cometh forth the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven—who giveth birth to it?

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

30 [When] like a stone the waters are congealed, and the face of the deep is bound in fetters?

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

31 Canst thou bind together the chains of the Pleiades, or loosen the bands of Orion?

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

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

33 Knowest thou the laws of heaven? or dost thou appoint its rule on the earth?

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

34 Canst thou lift up to the clouds thy voice, that the abundance of waters may cover thee?

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

35 Canst thou send out lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here are we?

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

36 Who hath put wisdom in the dark clouds? or who hath given understanding to the bright meteors?

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

37 Who ordaineth the skies with wisdom? or who emptieth out 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 is poured out as molten metal, and the clods are made to cleave fast together?

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

39 Dost thou hunt for the lioness her prey? and suppliest thou the food for the young lions,

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

40 When they are couched in their lairs, rest in the thicket, lying in wait?

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

41 Who provideth for the raven his provision? when his young ones cry unto God, and wander about for lack of food?

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