² “Who is this ignorant person
    saying these foolish things?^[a]
3 Prepare yourself for an attack!
    Get ready to answer the questions I will ask you.

⁴ “Where were you when I made the earth?
    If you are so smart, answer me.
⁵ And who decided how big the earth should be?
    Who measured it with a measuring line?
⁶ What is the earth resting on?
    Who put the first stone in its place
⁷ when the morning stars sang together
    and the angels^[b] shouted with joy?

⁸ “Who closed the flood gates
    as the sea gushed from the womb?
⁹ Who covered it with clouds
    and wrapped it in darkness?
¹⁰ I set the limits for the sea
    and put it behind locked gates.
¹¹ I said to the sea, ‘You can come this far, but no farther.
    This is where your proud waves will stop.’

² “I know you can do everything.
    You make plans, and nothing can change or stop them.
³ You asked, ‘Who is this ignorant person saying these foolish things?’^[a]
    I talked about things I did not understand.
    I talked about things too amazing for me to know.

⁴ “You said to me, ‘Listen, and I will speak.
    I will ask you questions, and you will answer me.’
⁵ In the past I heard about you,
    but now I have seen you with my own eyes.