Job 38
1 Then the Lord answered Job out of a whirlwind, and said:
And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: —
2 Who is this that wrappeth up sentences in unskillful words?
Who [is] this — darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?
3 Gird up thy loins like a man: I will ask thee, and answer thou me.
Gird, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.
4 Where wast thou when I laid up the foundations of the earth? tell me if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Who placed its measures — if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?
6 Upon what are its bases grounded? or who laid the corner stone thereof,
On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?
7 When the morning stars praised me together, and all the sons of God made a joyful melody?
In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,
8 Who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth as issuing 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 a cloud the garment thereof, and wrapped it in a mist as in swaddling bands?
In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 I set my bounds around it, and made it bars and doors:
And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,
11 And I said: Hitherto thou shalt come, and shalt go no further, and here thou shalt break thy swelling waves.
And say, 'Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'
12 Didst thou since thy birth command the morning, and shew the dawning of the day its place?
Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou the dawn to know its place?
13 And didst thou hold the extremities of the earth shaking them, and hast thou shaken the ungodly out of it?
To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,
14 The seal shall be restored as clay, and shall stand as a garment:
It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.
15 From the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the high arm shall be broken.
And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the depths of the sea, and walked in the lowest parts 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 opened to thee, and hast thou seen the darksome doors?
Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?
18 Hast thou considered the breadth of the earth? tell me, if thou knowest all things?
Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare — if thou hast known it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth, and where is the place of darkness:
Where [is] this — the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where [is] this — its place?
20 That thou mayst bring every thing to its own bounds, and understand the paths of the house thereof.
That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.
21 Didst thou know then that thou shouldst be born? and didst thou know the number of thy days?
Thou hast known — for then thou art born And the number of thy days [are] many!
22 Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, or has thou beheld the treasures of the hail:
Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?
23 Which I have prepared for the time of the enemy, 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 light spread, and heat divided upon the earth?
Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.
25 Who gave a course to violent showers, or a way for noisy thunder:
Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?
26 That it should rain on the earth without man in the wilderness, where no mortal dwelleth:
To cause [it] to rain on a land — no man, A wilderness — no man in it.
27 That it should fill the desert and desolate land, and should bring forth green grass?
To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?
28 Who is the father of rain? or who begot the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice; and the frost from heaven who hath gendered it?
From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?
30 The waters are hardened like a stone, and the surface of the deep is congealed.
As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.
31 Shalt thou be able to join together the shining stars the Pleiades, or canst thou stop the turning about of Arcturus?
Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?
32 Canst thou bring forth the day star in its time, and make the evening star to rise upon the children of the earth?
Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?
33 Dost thou know the order of heaven, and canst thou set down the reason thereof on the earth?
Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that an abundance of waters may cover thee?
Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?
35 Canst thou send lightnings, and will they go, and will they return and say to thee: Here we are?
Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, 'Behold us?'
36 Who hath put wisdom in the heart of man? or who gave the cock understanding?
Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?
37 Who can declare the order of the heavens, or who can make the harmony of heaven to sleep?
Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,
38 When was the dust poured on the earth, and the clods fastened together?
In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?
39 Wilt thou take the prey for the lioness, and satisfy the appetite of her whelps,
Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?
40 When they couch in the dens and lie in wait in holes?
When they bow down in dens — Abide in a thicket for a covert?
41 Who provideth food for the raven, when her young ones cry to God, wandering about, because they have no meat?
Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.
