Job 38
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1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:1Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
2“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?2"Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?
3Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.3Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
4“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.4"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
5Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?5Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,6On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone--
7when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?7while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
8“Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb,8"Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,
9when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band,9when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors,10when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,
11and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?11when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?
12“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,12"Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place,
13that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?13that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?
14It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment.14The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.
15From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.15The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.
16“Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?16"Have you journeyed to 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?17Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.18Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.
19“Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,19"What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?
20that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?20Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
21You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!21Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!
22“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,22"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail,
23which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?23which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?
24What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?24What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?
25“Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt,25Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm,
26to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man,26to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert,
27to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass?27to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass?
28“Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew?28Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew?
29From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?29From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens
30The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.30when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?
31“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?31"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion's belt?
32Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children?32Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?
33Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?33Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?
34“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you?34"Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?
35Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?35Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'?
36Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?36Who gives the ibis wisdom or gives the rooster understanding?
37Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,37Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens
38when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast together?38when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?
39“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,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 their thicket?40when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket?
41Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?41Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?
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Job 37
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