English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:

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

2“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?

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

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 foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.

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

5Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?

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

6What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone

7when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

7as 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 kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb,

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

9and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?

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

10For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.

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

11I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’

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

12“Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?

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

13Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?

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

14As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors.

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

15The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.

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

16“Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths?

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

17Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?

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

18Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!

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

19“Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?

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

20Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?

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

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 entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

22“Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail?

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

23(I have reserved them as weapons 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?

24Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind?

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

25“Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning?

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

26Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives?

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

27Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up?

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

28“Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew?

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

29Who is the mother of 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.

30For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.

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

31“Can you direct the movement of the stars— binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion?

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

32Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?

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

33Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?

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

34“Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?

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

35Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?

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

36Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind?

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

37Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven

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

38when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?

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

39“Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions’ appetites

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

40as they lie in their dens or crouch in the 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 ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?

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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.