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Job 38:4-30
English Standard Version
Job 38:4-30
English Standard Version
4 “Where were you when I (A)laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars (B)sang together
and all (C)the sons of God (D)shouted for joy?
8 “Or who (E)shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment
and (F)thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed (G)limits for it
and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your (H)proud waves be stayed’?
12 “Have you (I)commanded the morning since your days began,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold of (J)the skirts of the earth,
and the wicked be (K)shaken out of it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal,
and its features stand out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their (L)light is withheld,
and (M)their uplifted arm is broken.
16 “Have you (N)entered into the springs of the sea,
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have (O)the gates of death been revealed to you,
or have you seen the gates of (P)deep darkness?
18 Have 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,
20 that you may take it to its territory
and that you may discern (Q)the paths to its home?
21 You know, for (R)you were born then,
and the number of your days is great!
22 “Have you entered (S)the storehouses of the snow,
or have you seen (T)the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I have reserved (U)for the time of trouble,
(V)for the day of battle and war?
24 What 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 (W)a way for the thunderbolt,
26 to bring rain on (X)a land where no man is,
on (Y)the desert in which there is no man,
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate land,
and to make the ground sprout with (Z)grass?
28 “Has (AA)the rain a father,
or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb did (AB)the ice come forth,
and who has given birth to (AC)the frost of heaven?
30 The waters become hard like stone,
and the face of the deep is (AD)frozen.
Job 38:4-30
New International Version
Job 38:4-30
New International Version
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?(A)
Tell me, if you understand.(B)
5 Who marked off its dimensions?(C) Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line(D) across it?
6 On what were its footings set,(E)
or who laid its cornerstone(F)—
7 while the morning stars(G) sang together(H)
and all the angels[a](I) shouted for joy?(J)
8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors(K)
when it burst forth from the womb,(L)
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,(M)
10 when I fixed limits for it(N)
and set its doors and bars in place,(O)
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;(P)
here is where your proud waves halt’?(Q)
12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,(R)
or shown the dawn its place,(S)
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wicked(T) out of it?(U)
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;(V)
its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,(W)
and their upraised arm is broken.(X)
16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
or walked in the recesses of the deep?(Y)
17 Have the gates of death(Z) been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?(AA)
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?(AB)
Tell me, if you know all this.(AC)
19 “What is the way to the abode of light?
And where does darkness reside?(AD)
20 Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the paths(AE) to their dwellings?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born!(AF)
You have lived so many years!
22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow(AG)
or seen the storehouses(AH) of the hail,(AI)
23 which I reserve for times of trouble,(AJ)
for days of war and battle?(AK)
24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,(AL)
or the place where the east winds(AM) are scattered over the earth?(AN)
25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
and a path for the thunderstorm,(AO)
26 to water(AP) a land where no one lives,
an uninhabited desert,(AQ)
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
and make it sprout with grass?(AR)
28 Does the rain have a father?(AS)
Who fathers the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens(AT)
30 when the waters become hard as stone,
when the surface of the deep is frozen?(AU)
Footnotes
- Job 38:7 Hebrew the sons of God
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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.