Job 38

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

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

2 Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

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

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures of it, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who stretched the line upon it?

6 Upon what are the foundations of it fastened? or who laid its corner stone;

Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

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, [as if] it had issued out of the womb?

[Or who] shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb;

9 When I made a cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it,

When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10 And broke up for it my decreed [place], and set bars and doors,

And prescribed for it my decree, and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.

And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; [and] caused the day-spring to know its place;

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days [began, and] caused the dayspring to know its place;

13 That it might take hold of the ends of earth, that the wicked might be shaken 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 turned as clay [to] the seal; and they stand as a garment.

It is changed as clay under the seal; and [all things] stand forth as a garment:

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

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

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?

17 Have the gates of death been opened to thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shades of death?

Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

Hast thou comprehended the breadth of the earth? declare, if thou knowest it all.

19 Where [is] the way [where] light dwelleth? and [as for] darkness, where [is] its place,

Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and as for darkness, where is the place thereof;

20 That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths [to] its house?

That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?

21 Knowest thou [it], because thou wast then born? or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?

[Doubtless], thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, or hast thou seen the treasuries 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 light parted, [which] scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

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

25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, or a way for the lightning of the thunder;

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 where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground]; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

To satisfy the waste and desolate [ground]; and to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

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

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

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30 The waters are hid as [with] a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

The waters are hidden as [with] stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

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

32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in its season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with its sons?

Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set its dominion on the earth?

Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?

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

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

35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say to thee, Here we [are]?

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

36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

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

38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

When the dust runneth into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

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

40 When they couch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the covert to lie in wait?

When they couch in their dens, [and] abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry to God, they wander for want of food.

Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, [and] wander for lack of meat?