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