Job 38
1 Then did the Lord address Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,
2 Who is this that casteth darkness [on my] counsel by words without knowledge?
"Who is this who 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.
Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then 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 were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
5 Who fixed her measurements, if thou knowest it? or who stretched the measuring-line over her?
Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
6 Upon what are her foundation-pillars placed at rest? or who laid her corner-stone:
Whereupon were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
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 from the womb,
9 When I made the clouds its garment, and thick fog its swaddling-cloth,
when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 And when I decreed for it my law, and set [for it] bars and doors,
marked out for it my bound, 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, 'Here you may come, but no further. Here your 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 you commanded the morning in your days, and caused 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?
that it might take hold of the farthest parts of the earth, and shake the wicked 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 stands forth as a garment.
15 And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.
From the wicked, their light is withheld. 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 you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you 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 you? Or have you 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 you comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if you know it all.
19 Where is the way [to the spot where] the light dwelleth? and the darkness—where is its place,
"What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,
20 That thou mightest take each to its boundary, and that thou mightest mark the pathways to its house?
that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
21 Thou [surely] knowest it; because thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great.
22 Didst thou ever enter into the treasuries of the snow? or canst thou see the treasuries of the hail,
Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you 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 lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on 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 cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm;
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, to cause the tender grass to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew?
Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers 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? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it?
30 [When] like a stone the waters are congealed, and the face of the deep is bound in fetters?
The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.
31 Canst thou bind together the chains of the Pleiades, or loosen the bands of Orion?
"Can you fasten the chains of Kimah, or loosen the cords of Kesil?
32 Canst thou bring forth the constellations of the zodiac, each in its season? or canst thou guide the Bear with its young?
Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or can you lead Aysh with her children?
33 Knowest thou the laws of heaven? or dost thou appoint its rule on the earth?
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up to the clouds thy voice, that the abundance of waters may cover thee?
"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover you?
35 Canst thou send out lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here are we?
Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, '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 the sky,
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 of earth stick together?
39 Dost thou hunt for the lioness her prey? and suppliest thou the food for the young lions,
"Can you 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 crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
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?
