Job 38

1 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind,

Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2 "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

3 Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me.

Gird up now thy loins like a man, for I will demand of thee, and declare thou to me.

4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.

Where were thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou have understanding.

5 Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?

Who determined the measures of it, if thou know? Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,

Upon what were the foundations of it fastened? Or who laid the cornerstone of it

7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 "Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth from the womb,

Or who shut up the sea with doors when it broke forth, like it had issued out of the womb,

9 when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,

when I made clouds the garment of it, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,

10 marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,

and marked out for it my bound, and set bars and doors,

11 and said, 'Here you may come, but no further. Here your proud waves shall be stayed?'

and said, This far thou shall come, but no farther, and here thy proud waves shall be stayed?

12 "Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place;

Have thou commanded the morning since thy days began, and caused the dayspring to know its place

13 that it might take hold of the farthest parts of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?

that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?

14 It is changed as clay under the seal, and stands forth as a garment.

It is changed as clay under the seal, and all things stand forth as a garment.

15 From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.

And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm is broken.

16 "Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?

Have thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or have thou walked in the recesses of the deep?

17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates 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 Have you comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if you know it all.

Have thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou know it all.

19 "What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for 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 you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths 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 Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great.

Thou know, for thou were born then, and the number of thy days is great!

22 Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you seen the treasures 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 against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

24 By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?

By what way is the light divided, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?

25 Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm;

Who has cleft a channel for the water flood, or the way for the lightning of the thunder,

26 To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; on the wilderness, in which there is no man;

to cause it to rain on a land where no man is, on the wilderness, in which there is no man,

27 to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, and to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

28 Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?

Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it?

Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who has engendered it?

30 The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.

The waters hide themselves and become like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 "Can you fasten the chains of Kimah, or loosen the cords of Kesil?

Can thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32 Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or can you lead Aysh with her children?

Can thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or can thou guide the Bear with her train?

33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?

Do thou know the ordinances of the heavens? Can thou establish the dominion of it on the earth?

34 "Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover you?

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

35 Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, 'Here we are?'

Can thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say to thee, Here we are?

36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?

Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?

37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the sky,

Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven

38 when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?

when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?

39 "Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

Can thou hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions

40 when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?

when they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?

Who provides for the raven his prey when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?