God Speaks Now to Job
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
By words without knowledge?
3 “Now gird up your loins like a man,
And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,
Tell Me, if you have understanding,
5 Who set its measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the line on it?
Or who stretched the line on it?
6 “On what were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who enclosed the sea with doors
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
9 When I made a cloud its garment
And thick darkness its swaddling band,
And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 And I placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther;
And here shall your proud waves stop’?
And here shall your proud waves stop’?
God’s Mighty Power
12 “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And the wicked be shaken out of it?
And the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 “It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand forth like a garment.
And they stand forth like a garment.
15 “From the wicked their light is withheld,
And the uplifted arm is broken.
And the uplifted arm is broken.
16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea
Or walked in the recesses of the deep?
Or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 “Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18 “Have you understood the expanse of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.
Tell Me, if you know all this.
19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is its place,
And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you may take it to its territory
And that you may discern the paths to its home?
And that you may discern the paths to its home?
21 “You know, for you were born then,
And the number of your days is great!
And the number of your days is great!
22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress,
For the day of war and battle?
For the day of war and battle?
24 “Where is the way that the light is divided,
Or the east wind scattered on the earth?
Or the east wind scattered on the earth?
25 “Who has cleft a channel for the flood,
Or a way for the thunderbolt,
Or a way for the thunderbolt,
26 To bring rain on a land without people,
On a desert without a man in it,
On a desert without a man in it,
27 To satisfy the waste and desolate land
And to make the seeds of grass to sprout?
And to make the seeds of grass to sprout?
28 “Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 “From whose womb has come the ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
30 “Water becomes hard like stone,
And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.
And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.
31 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades,
Or loose the cords of Orion?
Or loose the cords of Orion?
32 “Can you lead forth a constellation in its season,
And guide the Bear with her satellites?
And guide the Bear with her satellites?
33 “Do you know the ordinances of the heavens,
Or fix their rule over the earth?
Or fix their rule over the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
So that an abundance of water will cover you?
So that an abundance of water will cover you?
35 “Can you send forth lightnings that they may go
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 “Who has put wisdom in the innermost being
Or given understanding to the mind?
Or given understanding to the mind?
37 “Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
Or tip the water jars of the heavens,
Or tip the water jars of the heavens,
38 When the dust hardens into a mass
And the clods stick together?
And the clods stick together?
39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in their dens
And lie in wait in their lair?
And lie in wait in their lair?
41 “Who prepares for the raven its nourishment
When its young cry to God
And wander about without food?
When its young cry to God
And wander about without food?
Job, 38 chapter