< Job 38 >

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2 Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded 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 set the measures thereof — if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb?
And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;
10 And brake up for it my decreed [place], and set bars and doors,
When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; [and] caused the dayspring to know his place;
Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay [to] the seal; and they stand as a garment.
It is changed like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
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 unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? and hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
19 Where [is] the way [where] light dwelleth? and [as for] darkness, where [is] the place thereof,
Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,
20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths [to] the house thereof?
That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?
21 Knowest thou [it], because thou wast then born? or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?
Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, [which] scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
By what way is the light parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, [where] no man [is; on] the wilderness, wherein [there is] no man;
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground; ] and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground], and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? or who begetteth the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?
30 The waters are hid as [with] a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee?
35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we [are]?
Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,
38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the covert to lie in wait?
When they crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, [and] they wander for lack of meat?

< Job 38 >