Job 38

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,

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

“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone,

What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone,

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 out of the womb,

“Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out of the womb,

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

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

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

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

11 and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’?

and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’?

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

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

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

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

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

It is changed as clay under the seal, and presented as a garment.

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

From the wicked, their light is withheld. 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 you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you 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 you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

18 Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all.

Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all.

19 “What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,

“What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,

20 that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?

that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?

21 Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!

Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!

22 Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses 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 lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29 Whose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the grey frost of the sky?

Whose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the gray frost of the sky?

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

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

31 “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?

“Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?

32 Can you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?

Can you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?

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

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

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

“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?

35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?

Can you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘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 count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,

Who can count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,

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 of earth stick together?

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

“Can you 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 crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?

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?