Job 38
1 Then the Lord answered Job out of a whirlwind, and said:
Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that wrappeth up sentences in unskillful words?
Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?
3 Gird up thy loins like a man: I will ask thee, and answer thou me.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid up the foundations of the earth? tell me if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 Upon what are its bases grounded? or who laid the corner stone thereof,
Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
7 When the morning stars praised me together, and all the sons of God made a joyful melody?
When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth as issuing out of the womb:
Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb;
9 When I made a cloud the garment thereof, and wrapped it in a mist as in swaddling bands?
When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
10 I set my bounds around it, and made it bars and doors:
And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors,
11 And I said: Hitherto thou shalt come, and shalt go no further, and here thou shalt break thy swelling waves.
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Didst thou since thy birth command the morning, and shew the dawning of the day its place?
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days [began], [And] caused the dayspring 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?
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 The seal shall be restored as clay, and shall stand as a garment:
It is changed as clay under the seal; And [all things] stand forth as a garment:
15 From the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the high arm shall be broken.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the depths of the sea, and walked in the lowest parts of the deep?
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been opened to thee, and hast thou seen the darksome doors?
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Hast thou considered the breadth of the earth? tell me, if thou knowest all things?
Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth, and where is the place of darkness:
Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20 That thou mayst bring every thing to its own bounds, and understand the paths of the house thereof.
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?
21 Didst thou know then that thou shouldst be born? and didst thou know the number of thy days?
[Doubtless], thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!
22 Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, or has thou beheld the treasures of the hail:
Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have prepared for the time of the enemy, against the day of battle and war?
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light spread, and heat divided upon the earth?
By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 Who gave a course to violent showers, or a way for noisy thunder:
Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;
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 where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 That it should fill the desert and desolate land, and should bring forth green grass?
To satisfy the waste and desolate [ground], And to cause the tender grass to spring forth?
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?
Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 The waters are hardened like a stone, and the surface of the deep is congealed.
The waters hide themselves [and become] like stone, And the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Shalt thou be able to join together the shining stars the Pleiades, or canst thou stop the turning about of Arcturus?
Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth the day star in its time, and make the evening star to rise upon the children of the earth?
Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?
33 Dost thou know the order of heaven, and canst thou set down the reason thereof on the earth?
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that an abundance of waters may cover thee?
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Canst thou send lightnings, and will they go, and will they return and say to thee: Here we are?
Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the heart of man? or who gave the cock understanding?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can declare the order of the heavens, or who can make the harmony of heaven to sleep?
Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When was the dust poured on the earth, and the clods fastened together?
When the dust runneth into a mass, And the clods cleave fast together?
39 Wilt thou take the prey for the lioness, and satisfy the appetite of her whelps,
Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in the dens and lie in wait in holes?
When they couch in their dens, [And] abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provideth food for the raven, when her young ones cry to God, wandering about, because they have no meat?
Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, [And] wander for lack of food?
