Job 38

1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,WEBThen Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,

2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?WEB“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.WEBBrace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!

4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.WEB“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.

5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?WEBWho determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?

6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;WEBWhat were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone,

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

8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?WEB“Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out of the womb,

9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,WEBwhen I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,

10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,WEBmarked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,

11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?WEBand said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’?

12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;WEB“Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place,

13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?WEBthat it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?

14It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.WEBIt is changed as clay under the seal, and presented as a garment.

15And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.WEBFrom the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.

16Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?WEB“Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?

17Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?WEBHave the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

18Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.WEBHave you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all.

19Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,WEB“What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,

20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?WEBthat you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?

21Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?WEBSurely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!

22Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,WEBHave you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

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

24By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?WEBBy what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?

25Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;WEBWho has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm,

26To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;WEBto cause it to rain on a land where there is no man, on the wilderness, in which there is no man,

27To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?WEBto satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to grow?

28Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?WEBDoes the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?

29Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?WEBWhose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the gray frost of the sky?

30The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.WEBThe waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.

31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?WEB“Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?

32Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?WEBCan you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?

33Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?WEBDo you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?

34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?WEB“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?

35Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?WEBCan you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?

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

37Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,WEBWho can count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,

38When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?WEBwhen the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?

39Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,WEB“Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

40When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?WEBwhen they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?

41Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.WEBWho provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?