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Job 38

1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,
1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
2“Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?
3Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!
3Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.
4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
4Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
5Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it?
6What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone,
6On what were its foundations set, or 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 sons of God shouted for joy?
8“Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out of the womb,
8Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,
9when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,
9when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket,
10marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,
10when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors,
11and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’?
11and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop’?
12“Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place,
12In your days, have you commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place,
13that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?
13that it might spread to the ends of the earth and shake the wicked out of it?
14It is changed as clay under the seal, and presented as a garment.
14The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its hills stand out like the folds of a garment.
15From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.
15Light is withheld from the wicked, and their upraised arm is broken.
16“Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
16Have you journeyed to the vents of the sea or walked in the trenches of the deep?
17Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
17Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all.
18Have you surveyed the extent of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.
19“What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,
19Where is the way to the home of light? Do you know where darkness resides,
20that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
20so you can lead it back to its border? Do you know the paths to its home?
21Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
21Surely you know, for you were already born! And the number of your days is great!
22Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
22Have you entered the storehouses of snow or observed the storehouses of hail,
23which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
23which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle?
24By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?
24In which direction is the lightning dispersed, or the east wind scattered over the earth?
25Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm,
25Who cuts a channel for the flood or clears a path for the thunderbolt,
26to cause it to rain on a land where there is no man, on the wilderness, in which there is no man,
26to bring rain on a barren land, on a desert where no man lives,
27to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to grow?
27to satisfy the parched wasteland and make it sprout with tender grass?
28Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?
28Does the rain have a father? Who has begotten the drops of dew?
29Whose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the gray frost of the sky?
29From whose womb does the ice emerge? Who gives birth to the frost from heaven,
30The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.
30when the waters become hard as stone and the surface of the deep is frozen?
31“Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
31Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion?
32Can you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
32Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear and her cubs?
33Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?
33Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?
34“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
34Can you command the clouds so that a flood of water covers you?
35Can you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
35Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
36Who has put wisdom in the heart or given understanding to the mind?
37Who can count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,
37Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Or who can tilt the water jars of the heavens
38when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?
38when the dust hardens into a mass and the clods of earth stick together?
39“Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
39Can you hunt the prey for a lioness or satisfy the hunger of young lions
40when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
40when they crouch in their dens and lie in wait in the thicket?
41Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
41Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food?