Job 38

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

In the midst of the storm, God responded to Job, saying,

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Who is this person, spreading confusion with ignorant words?

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

Prepare yourself bravely, like a true warrior; for I will question you, and you must respond to me.

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

Where were you when I was creating the world? Speak up, if you truly understand.

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

Who knows its dimensions, if you do? Or who has marked it with boundaries?

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

Who secured its very foundations? Who placed its cornerstone with such precision?

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

As dawn's first light birthed the day, the celestial bodies hummed a harmonious tune, and every divine child erupted in jubilant cheers.

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

Who contained the raging sea as if it were a newborn, bursting forth from the womb?

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

When I dressed the sea in clouds and swaddled it in deep darkness,

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

I've set boundaries for it, firmly establishing limits and safeguards.

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

He declared, "You may come this far, but no further; here is where your arrogant waves halt."

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

Have you ever directed the dawn or shown the sunrise its place in your lifetime?

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

So that it could grasp the earth's edges and shake the wicked out of it?

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

Like clay under a seal, it transforms; it's as if they're wearing it like a piece of clothing.

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

The wicked are denied enlightenment, and their power will be shattered.

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

Have you ever explored the ocean's depths or ventured into its mysterious heart?

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

Have you ever stared into the abyss of death? Have you glimpsed the entrance to life's final darkness?

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

Have you grasped the vastness of our world? Speak up if you claim to know it all.

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

Where can we find the path that leads to light? And where does darkness reside?

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

Can you lead them back to their borders? Do you know the paths to their homes?

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

Were you aware of this because you were born back then? Or is it because you've lived a long life?

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

Have you ever entered the storehouses of the snow? Or seen the storehouses of the hail,

Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

I've kept this aside for challenging times, for days filled with conflict and strife.

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

How does light divide and cast the eastern breeze across the land?

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

Who has carved a path for the raging flood, or a route for the striking thunderbolt?

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

To bring rain upon the deserted lands, where no human has set foot; on the wild, untouched by mankind.

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

To bring joy to the barren land, and to make the young plant bloom.

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

Does the rain have a parent? Who gives birth to the dewdrops?

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

Who gave birth to the icy frost? Who created the silver frost of the heavens?

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

The depths are concealed as if by a rock, and the profound sea is solidified.

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

Can you control the gentle sway of the Pleiades stars, or untie the strong bonds of Orion's constellation?

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

Can you command the constellations to appear when it's their time? Or can you guide the Great Bear and her cubs across the night sky?

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

Do you understand the laws of the heavens? Can you impose their power on earth?

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

Can you call out to the skies, asking for a downpour to drench you?

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

Can you command a bolt of lightning to appear and report back to you, saying, "Here I am, at your service"?

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

Who has instilled wisdom deep within us? Or who has gifted our hearts with understanding?

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

Who has the wisdom to count each cloud? Or the power to contain heaven's downpour?

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

When the earth hardens and the soil sticks together tightly?

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

Will you chase down food for the lion, or satisfy the hunger of its young ones?

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

When they settle in their hidden lairs, lying in wait with anticipation and stealth?

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

Who supplies food for the raven when its young cry out to God, lost and hungry?