Job 38

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

1And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: --

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

2Who <FI>is<Fi> this--darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?

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

3Gird, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.

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

4Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.

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

5Who placed its measures--if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?

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

6On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?

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

7In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,

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

8And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out.

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

9In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,

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

10And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,

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

11And say, `Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'

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

12Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou the dawn to know its place?

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

13To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,

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

14It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.

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

15And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.

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

16Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?

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

17Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?

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

18Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare--if thou hast known it all.

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

19Where <FI>is<Fi> this--the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where <FI>is<Fi> this--its place?

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

20That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.

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

21Thou hast known--for then thou art born And the number of thy days <FI>are<Fi> many!

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

22Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?

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

23That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle.

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

24Where <FI>is<Fi> this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.

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

25Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?

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

26To cause <FI>it<Fi> to rain on a land--no man, A wilderness--no man in it.

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

27To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?

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

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

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

29From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?

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

30As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.

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

31Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?

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

32Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?

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

33Hast 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 abundance of waters may cover thee?

34Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?

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

35Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, `Behold us?'

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

36Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?

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

37Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,

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

38In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?

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

39Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?

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

40When they bow down in dens--Abide in a thicket for a covert?

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

41Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.