Job 38

1 And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: —

And YHWH answers Job out of the whirlwind and says:

2 Who [is] this — darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?

“Who [is] this—darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?

3 Gird, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.

Now gird your loins as a man, And I ask you, and you cause Me to know.

4 Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.

Where were you when I founded the earth? Declare, if you have known understanding.

5 Who placed its measures — if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?

Who placed its measures—if you know? Or who has stretched out a line on it?

6 On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?

On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who has cast its cornerstone—

7 In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,

In the singing together of [the] stars of morning, When all [the] sons of God shout for joy?

8 And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out.

And He shuts up the sea with doors, In its coming forth, it goes out from the womb.

9 In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,

In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,

10 And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,

And I measure My statute over it, And place bar and doors,

11 And say, 'Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'

And say, To here you come, and no more, And a command is placed On the pride of your billows.

12 Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou the dawn to know its place?

Have you commanded morning since your days? Do you cause the dawn to know its place?

13 To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,

To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,

14 It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.

It turns itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.

15 And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.

And their light is withheld from the wicked, And the arm lifted up is broken.

16 Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?

Have you come to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Have you walked up and down?

17 Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?

Were the gates of death revealed to you? And do you see the gates of death-shade?

18 Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare — if thou hast known it all.

You have understanding, Even to the broad places of earth! Declare—if you have known it all.

19 Where [is] this — the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where [is] this — its place?

Where [is] this—the way light dwells? And darkness, where [is] this—its place?

20 That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.

That you take it to its boundary, And that you understand the paths of its house.

21 Thou hast known — for then thou art born And the number of thy days [are] many!

You have known—for then you are born, And the number of your days [are] many!

22 Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?

Have you come to the treasure of snow? Indeed, do you see the treasures of hail,

23 That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle.

That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle?

24 Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.

Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scatters an east wind over the earth.

25 Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?

Who has divided a conduit for the flood? And a way for the lightning of the voices?

26 To cause [it] to rain on a land — no man, A wilderness — no man in it.

To cause [it] to rain on a land [with] no man, A wilderness [with] no man in it.

27 To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?

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 dew?

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

29 From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?

From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoarfrost of the heavens, Who has begotten it?

30 As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.

Waters are hidden as a stone, And the face of the deep is captured.

31 Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?

Do you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Or do you open the cords of Orion?

32 Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?

Do you bring out the twelve signs in [their] season? And do you comfort the Great Bear over her sons?

33 Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?

Have you known the statutes of the heavens? Or do you appoint Its dominion in the earth?

34 Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?

Do you lift up your voice to the cloud, And abundance of water covers you?

35 Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, 'Behold us?'

Do you send out lightnings, and they go And say to you, Behold us?

36 Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?

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

37 Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,

Who numbers the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who causes to lie down,

38 In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?

In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?

39 Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?

Do you hunt prey for a lion? And fulfill the desire of young lions?

40 When they bow down in dens — Abide in a thicket for a covert?

When they bow down in dens—Abide in a thicket for a covert?

41 Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.

Who prepares for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry to God? They wander without food.”