Job 38 (English Standard Version)

Job 38

The LORD Answers Job

 ¹Then the LORD^(A) answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
 ²"Who is this that^(B) darkens counsel by words^(C) without knowledge? ^3(D) Dress for action^[a] like a man;
   I will question you, and you make it known to me.

 ⁴"Where were you when I^(E) laid the foundation of the earth?
   Tell me, if you have understanding.
⁵Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
   Or who stretched the line upon it?
⁶On what were its bases sunk,
   or who laid its cornerstone,
⁷when the morning stars^(F) sang together
   and all^(G) the sons of God^(H) shouted for joy?

 ⁸"Or who^(I) shut in the sea with doors
   when it burst out from the womb,
⁹when I made clouds its garment
   and^(J) thick darkness its swaddling band,
¹⁰and prescribed^(K) limits for it
   and set bars and doors,
¹¹and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
   and here shall your^(L) proud waves be stayed'?

 ¹²"Have you^(M) commanded the morning since your days began,
   and caused the dawn to know its place,
¹³that it might take hold of^(N) the skirts of the earth,
   and the wicked be^(O) shaken out of it?
¹⁴It is changed like clay under the seal,
   and its features stand out like a garment.
¹⁵From the wicked their^(P) light is withheld,
   and^(Q) their uplifted arm is broken.

 ¹⁶"Have you^(R) entered into the springs of the sea,
   or walked in the recesses of the deep?
¹⁷Have^(S) the gates of death been revealed to you,
   or have you seen the gates of^(T) deep darkness?
¹⁸Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
   Declare, if you know all this.

 ¹⁹"Where is the way to the dwelling of light,
   and where is the place of darkness,
²⁰that you may take it to its territory
   and that you may discern^(U) the paths to its home?
²¹You know, for^(V) you were born then,
   and the number of your days is great!

 ²²"Have you entered^(W) the storehouses of the snow,
   or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
²³which I have reserved^(X) 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?

 ²⁵"Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain
   and^(Y) a way for the thunderbolt,
²⁶to bring rain on^(Z) a land where no man is,
   on^(AA) the desert in which there is no man,
²⁷to satisfy the waste and desolate land,
   and to make the ground sprout with^(AB) grass?

 ²⁸"Has^(AC) the rain a father,
   or who has begotten the drops of dew?
²⁹From whose womb did^(AD) the ice come forth,
   and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?
³⁰The waters become hard like stone,
   and the face of the deep is^(AE) frozen.

 ³¹"Can you bind the chains of^(AF) the Pleiades
   or loose the cords of Orion?
³²Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth^[b] in their season,
   or can you guide^(AG) the Bear with its children?
³³Do you know^(AH) the ordinances of the heavens?
   Can you establish their rule on the earth?

 ³⁴"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
   that^(AI) a flood of waters may cover you?
³⁵Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go
   and say to you, 'Here we are'?
³⁶Who has^(AJ) put wisdom in^(AK) the inward parts^[c]
   or given understanding to the mind?^[d]
37Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
   Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
³⁸when the dust runs into a mass
   and^(AL) the clods stick fast together?

 ³⁹"Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
   or^(AM) satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
⁴⁰when they crouch in their^(AN) dens
   or lie in wait^(AO) in their thicket?
⁴¹Who provides for^(AP) the raven its prey,
   when its young ones cry to God for help,
   and wander about for lack of food?