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 who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?

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

Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer 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 foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.

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

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

6 “ On what were its bases sunk? 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 “ Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;

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

9 W hen I made a cloud its garment And thick darkness its swaddling band,

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

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

When I fixed My limit for it, 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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

16 “ Have you entered into the springs of the sea Or 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 “ 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 the shadow of death?

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 all this.

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

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

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

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

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

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

22 “ Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, Or have you seen the storehouses 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 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 light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?

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

“Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, 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 a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man;

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 set their dominion over 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, That an abundance of water may cover you?

35 “ Can you send forth 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 “ Who has put wisdom in the innermost being Or given understanding to the mind?

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

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 heaven,

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

When the dust hardens in clumps, And the clods cling 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 crouch in their dens, Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?

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

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