The Lord Speaks
1The Lord spoke to Job out of a storm. He said,
2“Who do you think you are to disagree with my plans?
You do not know what you are talking about.
3Get ready to stand up for yourself.
I will ask you some questions.
Then I want you to answer me.
4“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you know.
5Who measured it? I am sure you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6What was it built on?
Who laid its most important stone?
7When it happened, the morning stars sang together.
All the angels shouted with joy.
8“Who created the ocean?
Who caused it to be born?
9I put clouds over it as if they were its clothes.
I wrapped it in thick darkness.
10I set limits for it.
I put its doors and metal bars in place.
11I said, ‘You can come this far.
But you can’t come any farther.
Here is where your proud waves have to stop.’
12“Job, have you ever commanded the morning to come?
Have you ever shown the sun where to rise?
13The daylight takes the earth by its edges
as if it were a blanket.
Then it shakes sinful people out of it.
14The earth takes shape like clay stamped with an official’s mark.
Its features stand out
like the different parts of your clothes.
15Sinners would rather have darkness than light.
When the light comes, their power is broken.
16“Have you traveled to the springs at the bottom of the ocean?
Have you walked in its deepest parts?
17Have the gates of death been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18Do you understand how big the earth is?
Tell me, if you know all these things.
19“Where does light come from?
And where does darkness live?
20Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the paths to their houses?
21I am sure you know! After all, you were already born!
You have lived so many years!
22“Have you entered the places where the snow is kept?
Have you seen the storerooms for the hail?
23I store up snow and hail for times of trouble.
I keep them for days of war and battle.
24Where does lightning come from?
Where do the east winds live that blow across the earth?
25Who tells the rain where it should fall?
Who makes paths for the thunderstorms?
26They bring water to places where no one lives.
They water deserts that do not have anyone in them.
27They satisfy the needs of dry and empty lands.
They make grass start growing there.
28Does the rain have a father?
Who is the father of the drops of dew?
29Does the ice have a mother?
Who is the mother of the frost from the heavens?
30The waters become as hard as stone.
The surface of the ocean freezes over.
31“Can you tie up the cords of the Pleiades?
Can you untie the belt that Orion wears?
32Can you bring out all the stars in their seasons?
Can you lead out the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper?
33Do you know the laws that govern the heavens?
Can you rule over the earth the way I do?
34“Can you give orders to the clouds?
Can you make them pour rain down on you?
35Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?
Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36Who gives the ibis wisdom?
Who gives the rooster understanding?
37Who is wise enough to count the clouds?
Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens?
38I tip them over when the ground becomes hard.
I do it when the dirt sticks together.
39“Do you hunt for food for mother lions?
Do you satisfy the hunger of their cubs?
40Some of them lie low in their dens.
Others lie waiting in the bushes.
41Who provides food for ravens
when their babies cry out to me?
They wander around because they do not have anything to eat.
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.38.3 answer…: Heb. make me know
4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.38.4 hast…: Heb. knowest understanding 5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;38.6 foundations: Heb. sockets38.6 fastened: Heb. made to sink? 7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,38.10 brake…: or, established my decree upon it 11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?38.11 thy…: Heb. the pride of thy waves
12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?38.13 ends: Heb. wings 14It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. 15And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. 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 opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. 19Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?38.20 to the bound: or, at, etc 21Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? 22Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; 26To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 28Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.38.30 is…: Heb. is taken 31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?38.31 Pleiades: or, the seven stars: Heb. Cimah38.31 Orion: Heb. Cesil? 32Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?38.32 Mazzaroth: or, the twelve signs38.32 guide: Heb. guide them 33Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? 34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? 35Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?38.35 Here…: Heb. Behold us? 36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? 37Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,38.37 stay: Heb. cause to lie down 38When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?38.38 groweth…: or, is turned into mire: Heb. is poured 39Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,38.39 the appetite: Heb. the life 40When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
