1 ¶ Then 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 that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

3 N ow gird up thy loins like a man; for I will enquire of thee, and answer thou me.

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

4 ¶ Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Cause me to know, if thou hast understanding.

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

5 W ho ordered its dimensions, if thou knowest? Or who has stretched the line upon it?

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

6 U pon what are its foundations founded? Or who laid its corner stone;

Upon what were the foundations of it 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, as if it had issued out of the womb?

Or who shut up the sea with doors when it broke forth and issued out of the womb?—

9 W hen I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness a swaddling band for it,

When I made the clouds the garment of it, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it,

10 a nd established my decree upon it, and set bars and doors,

And marked for it My appointed boundary and set bars and doors,

11 a nd said, Thou shalt come unto here, but no further; and there shall the pride of thy waves be stayed.

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

12 ¶ Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days? Hast thou shown the dayspring its 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?

So that may get hold of the corners of the earth and shake the wickedness out of it?

14 I t is transformed as clay to the seal and then stands as a garment;

It is changed like clay into which a seal is pressed; and things stand out like a many-colored garment.

15 b ut the light of the wicked is taken from them, and the high arm is broken.

From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.

16 H ast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked searching out the deep?

Have you explored the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?

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 deep darkness?

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 it all.

19 W here is the way to the habitation of the light, and where is the place of the darkness?

Where is the way where light dwells? And as for darkness, where is its abode,

20 I f thou shalt take it in its borders, and if thou should understand the paths to its house?

That you may conduct it to its home, and may know the paths to its house?

21 I f thou didst know when thou wast to be born or if the number of thy days was to be great?

You must know, since you were born then! Or because you are so extremely old!

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

Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you seen the treasuries of the 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 divided; from where is the east wind scattered upon the earth?

By what way is the light distributed, or the east wind spread over the earth?

25 ¶ Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters or a way for the lightning of thunder,

Who has prepared a channel for the torrents of rain, or a path for the thunderbolt,

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

To cause it to rain on the uninhabited land on the desert where no man lives,

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

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

28 H as the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of the 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 begotten it?

Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

30 T he waters harden as stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

The waters are congealed like stone, and the face 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 chains of Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion?

32 C anst thou bring forth the signs of the heavens in their season, or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

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

33 D ost thou know the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou use its power in the earth?

Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule upon 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, so that an abundance of waters may cover you?

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

Can you send lightnings, that they may go and say to you, Here we are?

36 W ho put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who gave intelligence to understanding?

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

37 W ho declared the heavens 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 the heavens

38 w hen the dust hardens and the clods cleave fast together?

When the dust to run into a mass and the clods to cleave fast 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 crouch in their dens and abide in their lairs to lie in wait?

When they couch in their dens or lie in wait in their hiding place?

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

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