Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,
And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: —
2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Who [is] this — darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!
Gird, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.
5 Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
Who placed its measures — if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?
6 What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone,
On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?
7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,
8 “Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out of the womb,
And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out.
9 when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,
In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,
And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,
11 and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’?
And say, 'Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'
12 “Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place,
Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou 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?
To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,
14 It is changed as clay under the seal, and presented as a garment.
It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.
15 From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.
And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.
16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?
18 Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all.
Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare — if thou hast known it all.
19 “What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,
Where [is] this — the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where [is] this — its place?
20 that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.
21 Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
Thou hast known — for then thou art born And the number of thy days [are] many!
22 Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?
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 lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?
Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.
25 Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm,
Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?
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 — no man, A wilderness — no man in it.
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to grow?
To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?
28 Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Whose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the grey frost of the sky?
From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?
30 The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.
As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.
31 “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?
32 Can you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?
33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?
Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, 'Behold us?'
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?
37 Who can count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,
Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,
38 when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?
In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?
39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?
40 when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
When they bow down in dens — Abide in a thicket for a covert?
41 Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.
