| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 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? |
| 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. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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