1 T hen the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

2 W ho is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

“Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?

3 G ird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

4 W here wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.

5 W ho hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 W hereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,

7 w hen the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 O r who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

“Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb;

9 W hen I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band;

10 a nd brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;

11 a nd said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’

12 H ast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place,

13 t hat it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

14 I t is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment.

15 A nd from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

From the wicked their light is withheld, And the upraised arm is broken.

16 H ast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

“Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?

17 H ave the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 H ast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.

19 W here is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

“Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,

20 t hat thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home?

21 K nowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number of your days is great?

22 H ast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

“Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail,

23 w hich I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?

24 B y what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?

25 W ho hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

“Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, Or a path for the thunderbolt,

26 t o cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man;

27 t o satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

To satisfy the desolate waste, And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?

28 H ath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?

29 O ut of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?

30 T he waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

The waters harden like stone, And the surface of the deep is frozen.

31 C anst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

“Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion?

32 C anst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?

33 K nowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

34 C anst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you?

35 C anst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are ?

Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, ‘Here we are! ’?

36 W ho hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?

37 W ho can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,

38 w hen the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

When the dust hardens in clumps, And the clods cling together?

39 W ilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

40 w hen they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

When they crouch in their dens, Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?

41 W ho provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Who provides food for the raven, When its young ones cry to God, And wander about for lack of food?