Job 38
1 But the Lord, responding to Job from a whirlwind, said:
And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2 Who is this that wraps sentences in unskilled words?
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
4 Where were you, when I set the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who set its measurements, if you know, or who stretched a line over it?
Who set the measures thereof — if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
6 Upon what have its bases been grounded, and who set forth its cornerstone,
Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,
7 when the morning stars praised me together, and all the sons of God made a joyful noise?
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Who enclosed the sea with doors, when it broke forth as if issuing from the womb,
And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb?
9 when I stationed a cloud as its garment and wrapped it in a mist as if swaddling an infant?
When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;
10 I encircled it with my limits, and I positioned its bars and doors.
When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,
11 And I said: “This far you will approach, and you will proceed no further, and here you will break your swelling waves.”
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Did you, after your birth, command the birth of the sun and show the sunrise its place?
Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou caused the dawn to know its place,
13 And did you hold the extremities of the earth, shaking them, and have you shaken the impious out of it?
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 The seal will be restored like clay, and it will remain in place like a garment.
It is changed like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:
15 From the impious, the light will be taken away, and the exalted arm will be broken.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
16 Have you entered the depths of the sea, and have you taken a walk in the uttermost parts of the abyss?
Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been opened to you, and have you seen the doors of darkness?
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? and hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Have you considered the breadth of the earth? If you know all things, reveal them to me.
Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
19 Which is the way that holds the light, and which is the place of darkness?
Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,
20 In this way, you might lead each thing to its final place, and understand the paths of its house.
That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?
21 So then, did you know when you were to be born? And did you know the number of your days?
Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 Have you been admitted into the storehouses of the snows, and have you gazed upon the stockpile of the brimstone,
Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
23 which I have prepared for the time of the enemy, for the day of the battle and the war?
Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war?
24 In what way is the light scattered, and the heat distributed, over the earth?
By what way is the light parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 Who gave a course to the rainstorms, and a path to the resounding thunder,
Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;
26 so that it would rain on the earth far from man, in the wilderness where no mortal lingers,
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man;
27 so that it would fill impassable and desolate places, and would bring forth green plants?
To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground], and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth?
28 Who is the father of rain, or who conceived the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? or who begetteth the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb did the ice proceed, and who created the frost from the air?
Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?
30 The waters are hardened to become like stone, and the surface of the abyss freezes over.
When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.
31 Will you have the strength to join together the sparkling stars of the Pleiades, or are you able to disperse the circling of Arcturus?
Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
32 Can you bring forth the morning star, in its time, and make the evening star rise over the sons of the earth?
Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?
33 Do you know the order of heaven, and can you explain its rules here on the earth?
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
34 Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that an onslaught of waters will cover you?
Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee?
35 Can you send forth lightning bolts, and will they go, and on returning, say to you: “Here we are?”
Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who placed discernment in the guts of man, or who gave the rooster intelligence?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can describe the rules of the heavens, or who can put to rest the harmony of heaven?
Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,
38 When was the dust cast to become the earth, and when were its clods fastened together?
When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Will you seize prey for the lioness, and will you sustain the lives of her young,
Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 as they rest in their dens or lie in wait in pits?
When they crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?
41 Who provides the raven with its meal, when her chicks cry out to God, as they wander around because they have no food?
Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, [and] they wander for lack of meat?
