Job 38
World English BibleTranslation
World English Bible
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
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?
2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!
3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.
4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast the understanding.
5Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
5Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?
6What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone,
6Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
7when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
7When 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,
8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, and issued out of the womb;
9when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,
9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,
10And prescribed for it My decree, and set bars and doors,
11and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’?
11And said: 'Thus far shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed'?
12“Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place,
12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began, and caused the dayspring to know its place;
13that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?
13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14It is changed as clay under the seal, and presented as a garment.
14It is changed as clay under the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.
15But from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm is broken.
16“Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses 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 revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
17Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all.
18Hast thou surveyed unto the breadths of the earth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.
19“What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,
19Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and as for darkness, where is the place thereof;
20that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
21Thou knowest it, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
22Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
23which I have reserved against the time of trouble, 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 lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?
24By what way is the light parted, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm,
25Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, or a way for the lightning of the thunder;
26to cause it to rain on a land where there is no man, on the wilderness, in which there is no man,
26To cause it to rain on a land where no man is, on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to grow?
27To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?
28Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29Whose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the gray frost of the sky?
29Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoar-frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.
30The waters are congealed like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31“Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
31Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32Can you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
32Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her sons?
33Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?
33Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?
34“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35Can you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
35Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee: 'Here we are'?
36Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37Who can count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,
37Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?
38When the dust runneth into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
39“Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
39Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness? Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
40When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
41Who provideth for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry unto God, and wander for lack of food?
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