“Where were you when I (A)laid the foundation of the earth?
    Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
    Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
    or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars (B)sang together
    and all (C)the sons of God (D)shouted for joy?

“Or who (E)shut in the sea with doors
    when it burst out from the womb,
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.

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“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
    Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
    Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
    or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together,
    and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

“Or who shut in the sea with doors,
    when it burst forth from the womb;
when I made clouds its garment,
    and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed bounds for it,
    and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
    and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
    and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
    and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal,
    and it is dyed[a] like a garment.
15 From the wicked their light is withheld,
    and their uplifted arm is broken.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 38:14 Cn: Heb they stand forth