Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
And YHWH answers Job out of the whirlwind and says:
2 Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
“Who [is] this—darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou 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? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Where were you when I founded the earth? Declare, if you have known understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures of it, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Who placed its measures—if you know? Or who has stretched out a line on it?
6 Upon what are the foundations of it fastened? or who laid its corner stone;
On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who has cast its cornerstone—
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
In the singing together of [the] stars of morning, When all [the] sons of God shout for joy?
8 Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb?
And He shuts up the sea with doors, In its coming forth, it goes out from the womb.
9 When I made a cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it,
In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 And broke up for it my decreed [place], and set bars and doors,
And I measure My statute over it, And place bar and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.
And say, To here you come, and no more, And a command is placed On the pride of your billows.
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; [and] caused the day-spring to know its place;
Have you commanded morning since your days? Do you cause the dawn to know its place?
13 That it might take hold of the ends of earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,
14 It is turned as clay [to] the seal; and they stand as a garment.
It turns itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.
15 And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.
And their light is withheld from the wicked, And the arm lifted up is broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
Have you come to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Have you walked up and down?
17 Have the gates of death been opened to thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shades of death?
Were the gates of death revealed to you? And do you see the gates of death-shade?
18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare 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 [where] light dwelleth? and [as for] darkness, where [is] its place,
Where [is] this—the way light dwells? And darkness, where [is] this—its place?
20 That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths [to] its house?
That you take it to its boundary, And that you understand the paths of its house.
21 Knowest thou [it], because thou wast then born? or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?
You have known—for then you are born, And the number of your days [are] many!
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
Have you come to the treasure of snow? Indeed, do you see the treasures of hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle?
24 By what way is the light parted, [which] scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scatters an east wind over the earth.
25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
Who has divided a conduit for the flood? And a way for the lightning of the voices?
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, [where] no man [is]; [on] the wilderness in which [there is] no man;
To cause [it] to rain on a land [with] no man, A wilderness [with] no man in it.
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground]; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
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 came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoarfrost of the heavens, Who has begotten it?
30 The waters are hid as [with] a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
Waters are hidden as a stone, And the face of the deep is captured.
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose 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 Mazzaroth in its season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with its sons?
Do you bring out the twelve signs in [their] season? And do you comfort the Great Bear over her sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set its dominion on the earth?
Have you known the statutes of the heavens? Or do you appoint Its dominion in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift thy voice to the clouds, that 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 lightnings, that they may go, and say to thee, Here we [are]?
Do you send out lightnings, and they go And say to you, Behold us?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the covered part?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay 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 groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
Do you hunt prey for a lion? And fulfill the desire of young lions?
40 When they couch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the covert to lie in wait?
When they bow down in dens—Abide in a thicket for a covert?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry to God, they wander for want of food.
Who prepares for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry to God? They wander without food.”
