Job 38

1Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

1Then the LORD answered Job from out of a powerful whirlwind and said,

2Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?

2Who is this that makes my plans seem unclear by speaking words without any real knowledge?

3Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

3Brace yourself and stand up like a man; I will ask you questions, and you must answer me.

4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

4Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have so much understanding.

5Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?

5Who decided how large the earth should be? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?

6Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,

6What were the earth’s foundations set on? Who laid its cornerstone,

7When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

7while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

8Orwho shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb;

8Who shut up the sea behind closed doors when it burst forth from the womb of the earth?

9When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,

9I made the clouds its clothing and wrapped it in thick darkness like a baby's blanket.

10And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors,

10I marked out its boundaries and locked it behind bars and doors.

11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

11I said, 'You may come this far, but no farther; here is where your proud waves must stop.'

12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began, And caused the dayspring to know its place;

12Have you ever in your life commanded the morning to appear or told the dawn where its place should be,

13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

13so that it could grab the edges of the earth and shake the wicked out of it?

14It is changed as clay under the seal; Andall thingsstand forth as a garment:

14The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like the folds of a robe.

15And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken.

15The light is taken away from the wicked, and their raised arm of violence is broken.

16Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?

16Have you traveled to the places where the sea begins? Have you walked through the deepest parts of the ocean?

17Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?

17Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest shadow?

18Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.

18Do you really understand how wide the earth is? Tell me, if you know all this.

19Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

19Which way leads to the home of light? And where does darkness live?

20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?

20Can you take them to their borders? Do you know the paths to their houses?

21Doubtless, thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!

21Surely you know, for you were already born back then! You have lived such a long time!

22Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

22Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail,

23Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war?

23which I keep ready for times of trouble, for days of battle and war?

24By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?

24Where is the path to the place where light is distributed, or where the east winds are scattered over the earth?

25Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;

25Who cut a channel for the flooding rain and a path for the lightning and thunder,

26To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

26to make it rain on a land where no one lives—in a desert where there are no people—

27To satisfy the waste and desolate ground, And to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

27to soak the parched and empty ground and make the fresh grass grow?

28Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

28Does the rain have a father? Who created the drops of dew?

29Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

29From whose womb did the ice come? Who gave birth to the frost from the sky?

30The waters hide themselvesand becomelike stone, And the face of the deep is frozen.

30The waters become as hard as stone, and the surface of the deep ocean is frozen solid.

31Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?

31Can you tie the beautiful Pleiades stars together? Can you loosen the belt of Orion?

32Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?

32Can you bring out the stars of the seasons at the right time? Can you guide the Great Bear and her cubs?

33Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?

33Do you know the laws that rule the heavens? Can you make them rule over the earth?

34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee?

34Can you shout out to the clouds and make them cover you with a flood of rain?

35Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee, Here we are?

35Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you and say, 'Here we are'?

36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?

36Who put wisdom deep inside people? Who gave understanding to the mind?

37Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,

37Who is wise enough to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of heaven,

38When the dust runneth into a mass, And the clods cleave fast together?

38so that the dry dust turns into mud and the clumps of dirt stick together?

39Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

39Can you hunt prey for the lioness or satisfy the hunger of her young lions,

40When they couch in their dens, Andabide in the covert to lie in wait?

40when they crouch in their dens or hide in the bushes waiting to attack?

41Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, Andwander for lack of food?

41Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander around because they have nothing to eat?