English Standard Version

King James Bible

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

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

2“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

4“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?

5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,

6Whereupon are 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 in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb,

8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

9when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band,

9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors,

10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,

12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?

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

14It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment.

14It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.

15And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16“Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?

16Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

17Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.

18Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

19“Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,

19Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

20that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?

20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!

21Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

22Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?

23Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against 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?

24By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25“Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt,

25Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man,

26To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

27to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass?

27To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28“Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew?

28Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?

29Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

30The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?

31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children?

32Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

33Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?

33Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you?

34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?

35Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

36Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?

36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

37Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,

37Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast together?

38When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

39“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

39Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket?

40When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?

41Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.