1 T hen the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: --
2 W ho is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Who this -- darkening 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.
Gird, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.
4 W here were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Declare to Me, if you have and know understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.
5 W ho determined the measures of the earth, if you know? Or who stretched the measuring line upon it?
Who placed its measures -- if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?
6 U pon what were the foundations of it fastened, or who laid its cornerstone,
On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?
7 W hen the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,
8 O r who shut up the sea with doors when it broke forth and issued out of the womb?—
And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out.
9 W hen I made the clouds the garment of it, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it,
In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 A nd marked for it My appointed boundary and set bars and doors,
And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,
11 A nd said, Thus far shall you come and no farther; and here shall your proud waves be stayed?
And say, `Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'
12 H ave you commanded the morning since your days began and caused the dawn to know its place,
Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou 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?
To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are 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 turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.
15 F rom the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.
And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.
16 H ave you explored the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?
17 H ave the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of deep darkness?
Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?
18 H ave you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know it all.
Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare -- if thou hast known it all.
19 W here is the way where light dwells? And as for darkness, where is its abode,
Where this -- the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where this -- its place?
20 T hat you may conduct it to its home, and may know the paths to its house?
That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.
21 Y ou must know, since you were born then! Or because you are so extremely old!
Thou hast known -- for then thou art born And the number of thy days many!
22 H ave you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you seen the treasuries of the hail,
Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?
23 W hich I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?
That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle.
24 B y what way is the light distributed, or the east wind spread over the earth?
Where this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.
25 W ho has prepared a channel for the torrents of rain, or a path for the thunderbolt,
Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?
26 T o cause it to rain on the uninhabited land on the desert where no man lives,
To cause to rain on a land -- no man, A wilderness -- no man in it.
27 T o satisfy the waste and desolate ground and to cause the tender grass to spring forth?
To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?
28 H as the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
Hath the rain a father? Or who hath 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 belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?
30 T he waters are congealed like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.
31 C an you bind the chains of Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion?
Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?
32 C an you lead forth the signs of the zodiac in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her young?
Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?
33 D o you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule upon the earth?
Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?
34 C an you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that an abundance of waters may cover you?
Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?
35 C an you send lightnings, that they may go and say to you, Here we are?
Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, `Behold us?'
36 W ho has put wisdom in the inward parts ? Or who has given understanding to the mind ?
Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?
37 W ho can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the heavens
Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,
38 W hen the dust to run into a mass and the clods to cleave fast together?
In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?
39 C an you hunt the prey for the lion? Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions
Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?
40 W hen they couch in their dens or lie in wait in their hiding place?
When they bow down in dens -- Abide in a thicket for a covert?
41 W ho provides for the raven its prey when its young ones cry to God and wander about for lack of food?
Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.