Job 38:4-15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.(A)
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(B)
7 when the morning stars sang together
and all the heavenly beings[a] shouted for joy?(C)
8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,(D)
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and thick darkness its swaddling band,(E)
10 and prescribed bounds for it,
and set bars and doors,(F)
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stopped’?(G)
12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began
and caused the dawn to know its place,(H)
13 so that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
and the wicked be shaken out of it?(I)
14 It is changed like clay under the seal,
and it is dyed[b] like a garment.
15 Light is withheld from the wicked,
and their uplifted arm is broken.(J)
Job 38:4-15
Common English Bible
The establishing of order
4 Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations?
Tell me if you know.
5 Who set its measurements? Surely you know.
Who stretched a measuring tape on it?
6 On what were its footings sunk;
who laid its cornerstone,
7 while the morning stars sang in unison
and all the divine beings shouted?
8 Who enclosed the Sea[a] behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment,
the dense clouds its wrap,
10 when I imposed[b] my limit for it,
put on a bar and doors
11 and said, “You may come this far, no farther;
here your proud waves stop”?
12 In your lifetime have you commanded the morning,
informed the dawn of its place
13 so it would take hold of earth by its edges
and shake the wicked out of it?
14 Do you turn it over like clay for a seal,
so it stands out like a colorful garment?
15 Light is withheld from the wicked,
the uplifted arm broken.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible