38:1 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,

38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?
38:2 "Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?

38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
38:3 "Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell [Me,] if you have understanding,

38:5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?
38:5 Who set its measurements, since you know? Or who stretched the line on it?

38:6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
38:6 "On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone,

38:7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
38:7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

38:8 Or (who) shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, (as if) it had issued out of the womb;
38:8 "Or [who] enclosed the sea with doors, When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;

38:9 When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
38:9 When I made a cloud its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band,

38:10 And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors,
38:10 And I placed boundaries on it, And I set a bolt and doors,

38:11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
38:11 And I said, 'Thus far you shall come, but no farther; And here shall your proud waves stop'?

38:12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days (began), (And) caused the dayspring to know its place;
38:12 "Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, [And] caused the dawn to know its place;

38:13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
38:13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

38:14 It is changed as clay under the seal; And (all things) stand forth as a garment:
38:14 "It is changed like clay [under] the seal; And they stand forth like a garment.

38:15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken.
38:15 "And from the wicked their light is withheld, And the uplifted arm is broken.

38:16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
38:16 "Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?

38:17 Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
38:17 "Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

38:18 Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.
38:18 "Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell [Me,] if you know all this.

38:19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
38:19 "Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,

38:20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?
38:20 That you may take it to its territory, And that you may discern the paths to its home?

38:21 (Doubtless), thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!
38:21 "You know, for you were born then, And the number of your days is great!

38:22 Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
38:22 "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

38:23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war?
38:23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress, For the day of war and battle?

38:24 By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
38:24 "Where is the way that the light is divided, [Or] the east wind scattered on the earth?

38:25 Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;
38:25 "Who has cleft a channel for the flood, Or a way for the thunderbolt;

38:26 To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
38:26 To bring rain on a land without people, [On] a desert without a man in it,

38:27 To satisfy the waste and desolate (ground), And to cause the tender grass to spring forth?
38:27 To satisfy the waste and desolate land, And to make the seeds of grass to sprout?

38:28 Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
38:28 "Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?

38:29 Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
38:29 "From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

38:30 The waters hide themselves (and become) like stone, And the face of the deep is frozen.
38:30 "Water becomes hard like stone, And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.

38:31 Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?
38:31 "Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion?

38:32 Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?
38:32 "Can you lead forth a constellation in its season, And guide the Bear with her satellites?

38:33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?
38:33 "Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, Or fix their rule over the earth?

38:34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee?
38:34 "Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, So that an abundance of water may cover you?

38:35 Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee, Here we are?
38:35 "Can you send forth lightnings that they may go And say to you, 'Here we are'?

38:36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?
38:36 "Who has put wisdom in the innermost being, Or has given understanding to the mind?

38:37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38:37 "Who can count the clouds by wisdom, Or tip the water jars of the heavens,

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

38:39 Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
38:39 "Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

38:40 When they couch in their dens, (And) abide in the covert to lie in wait?
38:40 When they crouch in [their] dens, [And] lie in wait in [their] lair?

38:41 Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, (And) wander for lack of food?
38:41 "Who prepares for the raven its nourishment, When its young cry to God, And wander about without food?