Job 38
1 Then did the Lord address Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
And YHWH answers Job out of the whirlwind and says:
2 Who is this that casteth darkness [on my] counsel by words without knowledge?
“Who [is] this—darkening 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.
Now gird your loins as a man, And I ask you, and you cause Me to know.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell it, if thou hast any understanding [of it].
Where were you when I founded the earth? Declare, if you have known understanding.
5 Who fixed her measurements, if thou knowest it? or who stretched the measuring-line over her?
Who placed its measures—if you know? Or who has stretched out a line on it?
6 Upon what are her foundation-pillars placed at rest? or who laid her corner-stone:
On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who has cast its cornerstone—
7 When altogether sang the morning stars in gladness, and shouted for joy all the sons of God?
In the singing together of [the] stars of morning, When all [the] sons of God shout for joy?
8 And who closed up with doors the sea, when, issuing forth, it came out of the deep bosom of the earth?
And He shuts up the sea with doors, In its coming forth, it goes out from the womb.
9 When I made the clouds its garment, and thick fog its swaddling-cloth,
In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 And when I decreed for it my law, and set [for it] bars and doors,
And I measure My statute over it, And place bar 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 say, To here you come, and no more, And a command is placed On the pride of your billows.
12 Didst thou ever, in all thy days, command the morning; didst thou ever assign the morning-dawn its place:
Have you commanded morning since your days? Do you cause the dawn 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?
To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,
14 She is changed as the sealing-clay: and [all things] stand as though newly clad.
It turns itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.
15 And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.
And their light is withheld from the wicked, And the arm lifted up is broken.
16 Didst thou ever penetrate as far as the springs of the sea? or wander through the bottom of the deep?
Have you come to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Have you walked up and down?
17 Were the gates of death ever laid open unto thee? or canst thou see 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 Hast thou a clear understanding of the breadth of the earth? Tell it, if thou knowest it all.
You have understanding, Even to the broad places of earth! Declare—if you have known it all.
19 Where is the way [to the spot where] the light dwelleth? and the darkness—where is its place,
Where [is] this—the way light dwells? And darkness, where [is] this—its place?
20 That thou mightest take each to its boundary, and that thou mightest mark the pathways to its house?
That you take it to its boundary, And that you understand the paths of its house.
21 Thou [surely] knowest it; because thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
You have known—for then you are born, And the number of your days [are] many!
22 Didst thou ever enter into the treasuries of the snow? or canst thou see the treasuries of the hail,
Have you come to the treasure of snow? Indeed, do you see the treasures of hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of fight and battle?
That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle?
24 Where is the way [to the spot where] the light divideth itself, [where] the east wind is scattered over the earth?
Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scatters an east wind over 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 divided a conduit for the flood? And a way for the lightning of the voices?
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 [with] no man, A wilderness [with] no man in it.
27 To satisfy waste and desolate lands; and to promote the growth of the tender grass?
To satisfy a desolate and ruined 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 the dew?
Does the rain have 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?
From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoarfrost of the heavens, Who has begotten it?
30 [When] like a stone the waters are congealed, and the face of the deep is bound in fetters?
Waters are hidden as a stone, And the face of the deep is captured.
31 Canst thou bind together the chains of the Pleiades, or loosen the bands of Orion?
Do you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Or do you open the cords 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?
Do you bring out the twelve signs in [their] season? And do you comfort the Great Bear over her sons?
33 Knowest thou the laws of heaven? or dost thou appoint its rule on the earth?
Have you known the statutes of the heavens? Or do you appoint Its dominion in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up to the clouds thy voice, that the abundance of waters may cover thee?
Do you lift up your voice to the cloud, And abundance of water covers you?
35 Canst thou send out lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here are we?
Do you send out lightnings, and they go And say to you, Behold us?
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 covered part?
37 Who ordaineth the skies with wisdom? or who emptieth out 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 is poured out as molten metal, and the clods are made to cleave fast together?
In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?
39 Dost thou hunt for the lioness her prey? and suppliest thou the food for the young lions,
Do you hunt prey for a lion? And fulfill the desire of young lions?
40 When they are couched in their lairs, rest in the thicket, lying in wait?
When they bow down in dens—Abide in a thicket for a covert?
41 Who provideth for the raven his provision? when his young ones cry unto God, and wander about for lack of food?
Who prepares for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry to God? They wander without food.”
