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 darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

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

3 G ird up now your loins like a man, and I will demand of you, and you declare to Me.

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

4 W here were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Declare to Me, if you have and know understanding.

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

5 W ho determined the measures of the earth, if you know? Or who stretched the measuring line upon it?

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

6 U pon what were the foundations of it fastened, or who laid its cornerstone,

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 broke forth and 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 clouds the garment of it, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it,

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

10 A nd marked for it My appointed boundary and set bars and doors,

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

11 A nd said, Thus far shall you come and no farther; and here shall your proud waves be stayed?

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

12 H ave you commanded the morning since your days began and caused the dawn to know its place,

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

13 S o that may get hold of the corners of the earth and shake the wickedness 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 changed like clay into which a seal is pressed; and things stand out like a many-colored garment.

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

15 F rom the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.

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

16 H ave you explored the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?

“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 revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of deep darkness?

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

18 H ave you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know 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 dwells? And as for darkness, where is its abode,

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

20 T hat you may conduct it to its home, and may know the paths to its house?

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

21 Y ou must know, since you were born then! Or because you are so extremely old!

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

22 H ave you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you seen the treasuries of the hail,

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

23 W hich I have reserved for the time of trouble, for 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 distributed, or the east wind spread over the earth?

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

25 W ho has prepared a channel for the torrents of rain, or a path for the thunderbolt,

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

26 T o cause it to rain on the uninhabited land on the desert where no man lives,

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 waste and desolate ground and to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

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

28 H as the rain a father? Or who has 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 has given it birth?

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

30 T he waters are congealed like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

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

31 C an you bind the chains of Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion?

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

32 C an you lead forth the signs of the zodiac in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her young?

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

33 D o you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule upon the earth?

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

34 C an you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that an abundance of waters may cover you?

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

35 C an you send lightnings, that they may go and say to you, Here we are?

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

36 W ho has put wisdom in the inward parts ? Or who has given understanding to the mind ?

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

37 W ho can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the heavens

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

38 W hen the dust to run into a mass and the clods to cleave fast together?

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

39 C an you hunt the prey for the lion? Or satisfy 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 or lie in wait in their hiding place?

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

41 W ho provides for the raven its prey when its young ones cry to God and wander about for lack of food?

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