Job 38

1Then the Lord answered Job out of a whirlwind, and said:

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

2Who is this that wrappeth up sentences in unskilful words?

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

3Gird up thy loins like a man: I will ask thee, and answer thou me.

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

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

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

5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest or who hath stretched the line upon it?

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

6Upon what are its bases grounded? or who laid the corner stone thereof,

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

7When the morning stars praised me together, and all the sons of God made a joyful melody?

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

8Who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth as issuing out of the womb:

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

9When I made a cloud the garment thereof, and wrapped it in a mist as in swaddling bands?

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

10I set my bounds around it, and made it bars and doors:

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

11And I said: Hitherto thou shalt come, and shalt go no further, and here thou shalt break thy swelling waves.

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

12Didst thou since thy birth command the morning, and shew the dawning of the day its place?

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

13And didst thou hold the extremities of the earth shaking them, and hast thou shaken the ungodly out of it?

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

14The seal shall be restored as clay, and shall stand as a garment.

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

15From the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the high arm shall be broken.

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

16Hast thou entered into the depths of the sea, and walked in the lowest parts of the deep?

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

17Have the gates of death been opened to thee, and hast thou seen the darksome doors?

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

18Hast thou considered the breadth of the earth? tell me, if thou knowest all things.

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

19Where is the way where light dwelleth, and where is the place of darkness?

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

20That thou mayst bring every thing to its own bounds, and understand the paths of the house thereof.

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

21Didst thou know then that thou shouldst be born? and didst thou know the number of thy days?

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

22Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, or hast thou beheld the treasures of the hail:

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

23Which I have prepared for the time of the enemy, against the day of battle and war?

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

24By what way is the light spread, and heat divided upon the earth?

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

25Who gave a course to violent showers, or a way for noisy thunder:

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

26That it should rain on the earth without man in the wilderness, where no mortal dwelleth:

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

27That it should fill the desert and desolate land, and should bring forth green grass?

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

28Who is the father of rain? or who begot 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 frost from heaven who hath gendered it?

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

30The waters are hardened like a stone, and the surface of the deep is congealed.

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

31Shalt thou be able to join together the shining stars the Pleiades, or canst thou stop the turning about of Arcturus?

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

32Canst thou bring forth the day star in its time, and make the evening star to rise upon the children of the earth?

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

33Dost thou know the order of heaven, and canst thou set down the reason thereof on the earth?

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

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

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

35Canst thou send lightnings, and will they go, and will they return and say to thee: Here we are?

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

36Who hath put wisdom in the heart of man? or who gave the cock understanding?

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

37Who can declare the order of the heavens, or who can make the harmony of heaven to sleep?

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

38When was the dust poured on the earth, and the clods fastened together?

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

39Wilt thou take the prey for the lioness, and satisfy the appetite of her whelps,

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

40When they couch in the dens and lie in wait in holes?

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

41Who provideth food for the raven, when her young ones cry to God, wandering about, because they have no meat?

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