Job 38
New International Reader's Version
The Lord Speaks
38 The Lord spoke to Job out of a storm. He said,
2 “Who do you think you are to disagree with my plans?
You do not know what you are talking about.
3 Get ready to stand up for yourself.
I will ask you some questions.
Then I want you to answer me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you know.
5 Who measured it? I am sure you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 What was it built on?
Who laid its most important stone?
7 When it happened, the morning stars sang together.
All the angels shouted with joy.
8 “Who created the ocean?
Who caused it to be born?
9 I put clouds over it as if they were its clothes.
I wrapped it in thick darkness.
10 I set limits for it.
I put its doors and metal bars in place.
11 I said, ‘You can come this far.
But you can’t come any farther.
Here is where your proud waves have to stop.’
12 “Job, have you ever commanded the morning to come?
Have you ever shown the sun where to rise?
13 The daylight takes the earth by its edges
as if it were a blanket.
Then it shakes sinful people out of it.
14 The earth takes shape like clay stamped with an official’s mark.
Its features stand out
like the different parts of your clothes.
15 Sinners would rather have darkness than light.
When the light comes, their power is broken.
16 “Have you traveled to the springs at the bottom of the ocean?
Have you walked in its deepest parts?
17 Have the gates of death been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18 Do you understand how big the earth is?
Tell me, if you know all these things.
19 “Where does light come from?
And where does darkness live?
20 Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the paths to their houses?
21 I am sure you know! After all, you were already born!
You have lived so many years!
22 “Have you entered the places where the snow is kept?
Have you seen the storerooms for the hail?
23 I store up snow and hail for times of trouble.
I keep them for days of war and battle.
24 Where does lightning come from?
Where do the east winds live that blow across the earth?
25 Who tells the rain where it should fall?
Who makes paths for the thunderstorms?
26 They bring water to places where no one lives.
They water deserts that do not have anyone in them.
27 They satisfy the needs of dry and empty lands.
They make grass start growing there.
28 Does the rain have a father?
Who is the father of the drops of dew?
29 Does the ice have a mother?
Who is the mother of the frost from the heavens?
30 The waters become as hard as stone.
The surface of the ocean freezes over.
31 “Can you tie up the cords of the Pleiades?
Can you untie the belt that Orion wears?
32 Can you bring out all the stars in their seasons?
Can you lead out the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper?
33 Do you know the laws that govern the heavens?
Can you rule over the earth the way I do?
34 “Can you give orders to the clouds?
Can you make them pour rain down on you?
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?
Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who gives the ibis wisdom?
Who gives the rooster understanding?
37 Who is wise enough to count the clouds?
Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens?
38 I tip them over when the ground becomes hard.
I do it when the dirt sticks together.
39 “Do you hunt for food for mother lions?
Do you satisfy the hunger of their cubs?
40 Some of them lie low in their dens.
Others lie waiting in the bushes.
41 Who provides food for ravens
when their babies cry out to me?
They wander around because they do not have anything to eat.
Job 38
International Children’s Bible
The Lord Questions Job
38 Then the Lord answered Job from the storm. He said:
2 “Who is this that makes my purpose unclear
by saying things that are not true?
3 Be strong like a man.
I will ask you questions,
and you must answer me.
4 Where were you when I made the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off how big it should be?
Surely you know!
6 What were the earth’s foundations set on?
Or who put its cornerstone in place?
7 Who did all this while the morning stars sang together?
Who did this while the angels shouted with joy?
8 “Who shut the doors to keep the sea in
when it broke through and was born?
9 This was when I made the clouds like a coat for the sea.
And I wrapped the sea in dark clouds.
10 It was when I put limits on the sea.
And I put its doors and bars in place.
11 It was when I said to the sea, ‘You may come this far, but no farther.
This is where your proud waves must stop.’
12 “Have you ever given orders for morning to begin?
Or have you shown the dawn where its place was?
13 The dawn takes hold of earth by its edges
and shakes evil people out of it.
14 At dawn the earth changes like clay being pressed by a seal.
The hills and valleys stand out like folds in a coat.
15 Light is not given to evil people.
Their arm is raised to do harm, but it is broken.
16 “Have you ever gone to where the sea begins?
Or have you walked in the valleys under the sea?
17 Have the gates of death been opened to you?
Or have you seen the gates of the deep darkness?
18 Do you understand the great width of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all these things.
19 “What is the path to light’s home?
And where does darkness live?
20 Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the way to their homes?
21 Surely you know, if you were already born when all this happened!
Have you lived that many years?
22 “Have you ever gone into the storehouse where snow is kept?
Or have you seen the storehouses for hail?
23 I save the snow and hail for times of trouble.
I save them for days of war and battle.
24 How do you get to the place where light comes from?
Or where is the place from which the east winds are scattered over the earth?
25 Who cuts a waterway for the heavy rains?
And who sets a path for the thunderstorm to follow?
26 Who waters the land where no one lives?
Who waters the desert that has no one in it?
27 Who sends rain to satisfy the empty land
so the grass begins to grow?
28 Does the rain have a father?
Who is father to the drops of dew?
29 Who is the mother of the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the sky?
30 The waters become hard as stone.
Even the surface of the deep ocean is frozen.
31 “Can you tie up the stars of the Pleiades?
Can you loosen the ropes of the stars in Orion?
32 Can you bring out the stars at the right times?
Or can you lead out the stars of the Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the laws of the sky?
Can you understand their rule over the earth?
34 “Can you shout an order to the clouds
and cover yourself with a flood of water?
35 Can you send lightning bolts on their way?
Do the flashes of lightning report to you and say, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who put wisdom inside the mind?
Or who put understanding in the heart?
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
Who can pour water from the jars of heaven?
38 Who can do this when the dust becomes hard
and the clumps of dirt stick together?
39 “Do you hunt food for the female lion
to satisfy the hunger of the young lions?
40 Do you hunt for them while they lie in their dens
or hide in the bushes waiting to attack?
41 Who gives food to the birds
when their young cry out to God?
And who gives them food when they wander about without any?
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The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
