Job chapter 38
English Standard Version
2"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. 4"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5Who determined its measurements — surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8"Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, 9when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’? 12"Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, 13that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? 14It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment. 15From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken. 16"Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 18Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this. 19"Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, 20that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? 21You know, for you were born then, 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, 23which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? 24What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth? 25"Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt, 26to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man, 27to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass? 28"Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew? 29From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven? 30The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. 31"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion? 32Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children? 33Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth? 34"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you? 35Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’? 36Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? 37Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, 38when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast together? 39"Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket? 41Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?
New International Version
3Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 4"Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—
7while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? 8"Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, 9when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, 10when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,
11when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’? 12"Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, 13that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? 14The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.
15The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken. 16"Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. 19"What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? 20Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
21Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years! 22"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, 23which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle? 24What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? 25Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, 26to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert, 27to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass? 28Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew? 29From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens
30when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen? 31"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt? 32Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?
33Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth? 34"Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? 35Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’? 36Who gives the ibis wisdom or gives the rooster understanding? 37Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens
38when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together? 39"Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions 40when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket? 41Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?
New American Standard Bible
2'Who is this who darkens the divine plan By words without knowledge? 3Now tighten the belt on your waist like a man, And I shall ask you, and you inform Me! 4Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, 5Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the measuring line over it? 6On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8'Or who enclosed the sea with doors When it went out from the womb, bursting forth; 9When I made a cloud its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling bands, 10And I placed boundaries on it And set a bolt and doors, 11And I said, ‘As far as this point you shall come, but no farther; And here your proud waves shall stop’? 12'Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And made the dawn know its place, 13So that it would take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked would be shaken off from it? 14It is changed like clay under the seal; And they stand out like a garment. 15Their light is withheld from the wicked, And the uplifted arm is broken. 16'Have you entered the springs of the sea, And walked in the depth of the ocean? 17Have the gates of death been revealed to you, And have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 18Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this. 19'Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place, 20That you would take it to its territory, And discern the paths to its home? 21You know, for you were born then, And the number of your days is great! 22Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, And have you seen the storehouses of the hail, 23Which I have reserved for a time of distress, For a day of war and battle? 24Where is the way that the light is divided, And the east wind scattered on the earth? 25'Who has split open a channel for the flood, And a way for the thunderbolt, 26To bring rain on a land without people, On a desert without a person in it, 27To satisfy the waste and desolate land, And to make the seeds of grass to sprout? 28Does the rain have a father? Or who has fathered the drops of dew? 29From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth? 30Water becomes hard like stone, And the surface of the deep is imprisoned. 31'Can you tie up the chains of the Pleiades, Or untie the cords of Orion? 32Can you bring out a constellation in its season, And guide the Bear with her satellites? 33Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, Or do you establish their rule over the earth? 34'Can you raise your voice to the clouds, So that an abundance of water will cover you? 35Can you send flashes of lightning, so that they may go And say to you, ‘Here we are’? 36Who has put wisdom in the innermost being, Or given understanding to the mind? 37Who can count the clouds by wisdom, And pour out the water jars of the heavens, 38When the dust hardens into a mass And the clods stick together? 39'Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of young lions, 40When they crouch in their hiding places, And lie in wait in their lair? 41Who prepares feed for the raven When its young cry to God, And wander about without food?
Christian Standard Bible
2Who is this who obscures my counsel with ignorant words? 3Get ready to answer me like a man; when I question you, you will inform me. 4Where were you when I established the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6What supports its foundations? Or who laid its cornerstone
7while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst from the womb, 9when I made the clouds its garment and total darkness its blanket, 10when I determined its boundaries and put its bars and doors in place,
11when I declared: "You may come this far, but no farther; your proud waves stop here"? 12Have you ever in your life commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place, 13so it may seize the edges of the earth and shake the wicked out of it? 14The earth is changed as clay is by a seal; its hills stand out like the folds of a garment.
15Light is withheld from the wicked, and the arm raised in violence is broken. 16Have you traveled to the sources of the sea or walked in the depths of the oceans? 17Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18Have you comprehended the extent of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. 19Where is the road to the home of light? Do you know where darkness lives, 20so you can lead it back to its border? Are you familiar with the paths to its home? 21Don’t you know? You were already born; you have lived so long! 22Have you entered the place where the snow is stored? Or have you seen the storehouses of hail, 23which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of warfare and battle?
24What road leads to the place where light is dispersed? Where is the source of the east wind that spreads across the earth? 25Who cuts a channel for the flooding rain or clears the way for lightning, 26to bring rain on an uninhabited land, on a desert with no human life, 27to satisfy the parched wasteland and cause the grass to sprout? 28Does the rain have a father? Who fathered the drops of dew? 29Whose womb did the ice come from? Who gave birth to the frost of heaven
30when water becomes as hard as stone, and the surface of the watery depths is frozen? 31Can you fasten the chains of the Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion? 32Can you bring out the constellations in their season and lead the Bear and her cubs? 33Do you know the laws of heaven? Can you impose its authority on earth? 34Can you command the clouds so that a flood of water covers you?
35Can you send out lightning bolts, and they go? Do they report to you: "Here we are"? 36Who put wisdom in the heart or gave the mind understanding? 37Who has the wisdom to number the clouds? Or who can tilt the water jars of heaven
38when the dust hardens like cast metal and the clods of dirt stick together? 39Can you hunt prey for a lioness or satisfy the appetite of young lions 40when they crouch in their dens and lie in wait within their lairs? 41Who provides the raven’s food when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?
New Living Translation
2'Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? 3Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
4'Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. 5Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? 6What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone 7as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
8'Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, 9and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? 10For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. 11I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’
12'Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? 13Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness? 14As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors. 15The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.
16'Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? 17Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? 18Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!
19'Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? 20Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there? 21But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!
22'Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail? 23(I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war.) 24Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind?
25'Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning? 26Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives? 27Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up?
28'Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew? 29Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens? 30For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.
31'Can you direct the movement of the stars — binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? 32Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens? 33Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?
34'Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? 35Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct? 36Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? 37Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven 38when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?
King James Version
1Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
17Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
New King James Version
2“Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. 4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8“Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb; 9When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band; 10When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; 11When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’ 12“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place, 13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it? 14It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment. 15From the wicked their light is withheld, And the upraised arm is broken. 16“Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths? 17Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this. 19“Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place, 20That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home? 21Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number of your days is great? 22“Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail, 23 Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war? 24By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth? 25“Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, Or a path for the thunderbolt, 26To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man; 27 To satisfy the desolate waste, And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass? 28 Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew? 29From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth? 30The waters harden like stone, And the surface of the deep is frozen. 31“Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion? 32Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs? 33Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth? 34“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you? 35Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, ‘Here we are!’? 36 Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart? 37Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, 38When the dust hardens in clumps, And the clods cling together? 39“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40When they crouch in their dens, Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait? 41 Who provides food for the raven, When its young ones cry to God, And wander about for lack of food?
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION®, NIV® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission.
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission.
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THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION®, NIV® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission.
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission.