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Job 38:2-3
New International Version
Job 38:2-3
New International Version
Job 38:2-11
The Message
Job 38:2-11
The Message
God Confronts Job
Have You Gotten to the Bottom of Things?
38 1-11 And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said:
“Why do you confuse the issue?
Why do you talk without knowing what you’re talking about?
Pull yourself together, Job!
Up on your feet! Stand tall!
I have some questions for you,
and I want some straight answers.
Where were you when I created the earth?
Tell me, since you know so much!
Who decided on its size? Certainly you’ll know that!
Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?
How was its foundation poured,
and who set the cornerstone,
While the morning stars sang in chorus
and all the angels shouted praise?
And who took charge of the ocean
when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb?
That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds,
and tucked it in safely at night.
Then I made a playpen for it,
a strong playpen so it couldn’t run loose,
And said, ‘Stay here, this is your place.
Your wild tantrums are confined to this place.’
Job 38:2-11
New International Version
Job 38:2-11
New International Version
2 “Who is this that obscures my plans(A)
with words without knowledge?(B)
3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.(C)
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?(D)
Tell me, if you understand.(E)
5 Who marked off its dimensions?(F) Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line(G) across it?
6 On what were its footings set,(H)
or who laid its cornerstone(I)—
7 while the morning stars(J) sang together(K)
and all the angels[a](L) shouted for joy?(M)
8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors(N)
when it burst forth from the womb,(O)
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,(P)
10 when I fixed limits for it(Q)
and set its doors and bars in place,(R)
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;(S)
here is where your proud waves halt’?(T)
Footnotes
- Job 38:7 Hebrew the sons of God
Job 38:2-11
New King James Version
Job 38:2-11
New King James Version
2 “Who(A) is this who darkens counsel
By (B)words without knowledge?
3 (C)Now [a]prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4 “Where(D) were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the [b]line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all (E)the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or(F) who shut in the sea with doors,
When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 When (G)I fixed My limit for it,
And set bars and doors;
11 When I said,
‘This far you may come, but no farther,
And here your proud waves (H)must stop!’
Job 38:2-11
New American Standard Bible
Job 38:2-11
New American Standard Bible
2 “Who is this who (A)darkens the divine plan
By words without knowledge?
3 Now [a](B)tighten the belt on your waist like a man,
And (C)I shall ask you, and you inform Me!
4 Where were you (D)when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you [b]have understanding,
5 Who set its (E)measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the measuring line over it?
6 On what (F)were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together
And all the (G)sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who (H)enclosed the sea with doors
When it went out from the womb, bursting forth;
9 When I made a cloud its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling bands,
10 And I [c](I)placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘As far as this point you shall come, but no farther;
And here your proud waves shall stop’?
Job 38:2-11
The Message
Job 38:2-11
The Message
God Confronts Job
Have You Gotten to the Bottom of Things?
38 1-11 And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said:
“Why do you confuse the issue?
Why do you talk without knowing what you’re talking about?
Pull yourself together, Job!
Up on your feet! Stand tall!
I have some questions for you,
and I want some straight answers.
Where were you when I created the earth?
Tell me, since you know so much!
Who decided on its size? Certainly you’ll know that!
Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?
How was its foundation poured,
and who set the cornerstone,
While the morning stars sang in chorus
and all the angels shouted praise?
And who took charge of the ocean
when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb?
That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds,
and tucked it in safely at night.
Then I made a playpen for it,
a strong playpen so it couldn’t run loose,
And said, ‘Stay here, this is your place.
Your wild tantrums are confined to this place.’
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson