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

Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

3 “ Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

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

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

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

5 W ho set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it?

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

6 “ On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone,

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 “ Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from 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 a cloud its garment And thick darkness its swaddling band,

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

10 A nd I placed boundaries on it And set a bolt and doors,

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

11 A nd I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther; And here shall your proud waves stop’? God’s Mighty Power

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

12 “ Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, 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 T hat it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

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

14 “ It is changed like clay under the seal; And they stand forth like a garment.

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

15 “ From the wicked their light is withheld, And the uplifted arm is broken.

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

16 “ Have you entered into the springs of the sea Or walked in the recesses of the deep?

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

17 “ Have the gates of death been revealed to you, Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

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

18 “ Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.

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

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

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

20 T hat you may take it to its territory And that you may discern the paths to its home?

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

21 “ You know, for you were born then, And the number of your days is great!

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

22 “ Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, Or have you seen the storehouses 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 for the time of distress, For the day of war and battle?

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

24 “ Where is the way that the light is divided, Or the east wind scattered on the earth?

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

25 “ Who has cleft a channel for the flood, Or a way for the thunderbolt,

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

26 T o bring rain on a land without people, On a desert without a man in it,

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

27 T o satisfy the waste and desolate land And to make the seeds of grass to sprout?

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

28 “ Has 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 “ From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

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

30 “ Water becomes hard like stone, And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.

The waters are congealed like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 “ Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion?

Can you bind the chains of Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion?

32 “ Can you lead forth a constellation in its season, And guide the Bear with her satellites?

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

33 “ Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, Or fix their rule over the earth?

Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule upon the earth?

34 “ Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, So that an abundance of water will cover you?

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

35 “ Can you send forth lightnings that they may go And say to you, ‘Here we are’?

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

36 “ Who has put wisdom in the innermost being Or given understanding to the mind?

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

37 “ Who can count the clouds by wisdom, Or tip the water jars of the heavens,

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

38 W hen the dust hardens into a mass And the clods stick together?

When the dust to run into a mass and the clods to cleave fast together?

39 “ Can 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 crouch in their dens And lie in wait in their lair?

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

41 “ Who prepares for the raven its nourishment When its young cry to God And wander about without food?

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