Job

The book of Job, chapter 38, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 38 New English Translation

VI. The Divine Speeches (38:1-42:6)

The LORD's First Speech

   1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:
   2 "Who is this who darkens counsel with words without knowledge?
   3 Get ready for a difficult task like a man; I will question you and you will inform me!

God's questions to Job

   4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding!
   5 Who set its measurements - if you know - or who stretched a measuring line across it?
   6 On what were its bases set, or who laid its cornerstone -
   7 when the morning stars sang in chorus, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
   8 "Who shut up the sea with doors when it burst forth, coming out of the womb,
   9 when I made the storm clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band,
   10 when I prescribed its limits, and set in place its bolts and doors,
   11 when I said, 'To here you may come and no farther, here your proud waves will be confined'?
   12 Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, or made the dawn know its place,
   13 that it might seize the corners of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?
   14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features are dyed like a garment.
   15 Then from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm raised in violence is broken.
   16 Have you gone to the springs that fill the sea, or walked about in the recesses of the deep?
   17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of deepest darkness?
   18 Have you considered the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know it all!
   19 "In what direction does light reside, and darkness, where is its place,
   20 that you may take them to their borders and perceive the pathways to their homes?
   21 You know, for you were born before them; and the number of your days is great!
   22 Have you entered the storehouse of the snow, or seen the armory of the hail,
   23 which I reserve for the time of trouble, for the day of war and battle?
   24 In what direction is lightning dispersed, or the east winds scattered over the earth?
   25 Who carves out a channel for the heavy rains, and a path for the rumble of thunder,
   26 to cause it to rain on an uninhabited land, a desert where there are no human beings,
   27 to satisfy a devastated and desolate land, and to cause it to sprout with vegetation?
   28 Does the rain have a father, or who has fathered the drops of the dew?
   29 From whose womb does the ice emerge, and the frost from the sky, who gives birth to it,
   30 when the waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen solid?
   31 Can you tie the bands of the Pleiades, or release the cords of Orion?
   32 Can you lead out the constellations in their seasons, or guide the Bear with its cubs?
   33 Do you know the laws of the heavens, or can you set up their rule over the earth?
   34 Can you raise your voice to the clouds so that a flood of water covers you?
   35 Can you send out lightning bolts, and they go? Will they say to you, 'Here we are'?
   36 Who has put wisdom in the heart, or has imparted understanding to the mind?
   37 Who by wisdom can count the clouds, and who can tip over the water jars of heaven,
   38 when the dust hardens into a mass, and the clumps of earth stick together?
   39 "Do you hunt prey for the lioness, and satisfy the appetite of the lions,
   40 when they crouch in their dens, when they wait in ambush in the thicket?
   41 Who prepares prey for the raven, when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?

King James Version

   1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
   2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
   3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
   4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
   5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
   6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
   7 When 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 brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
   9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
   10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
   11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
   12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
   13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
   14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
   15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
   16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
   17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
   18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
   19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
   20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
   21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
   22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
   23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
   24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
   25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
   26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
   27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
   28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
   29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
   30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
   31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
   32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
   33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
   34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
   35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
   36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
   37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
   38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
   39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
   40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
   41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.