38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

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

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

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

24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

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

28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

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

36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Word out of the Whirlwind

38 Then Adonai answered Job out of the whirlwind.

He said:

“Who is this, who darkens counsel
    with words without knowledge?
Now gird up your loins like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you will inform Me!

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
Who set its dimensions—if you know—
    or who stretched a line over it?
On what were its foundations set,
    or who laid its cornerstone—
when the morning stars sang together,
    and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

“And who shut up the sea behind doors
    when it burst forth from the womb,
when I made a cloud its garment
    and thick darkness its swaddling cloth,
10 when I prescribed my boundary for it,
    and set bars and gates,
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come, but no further;
        here your majestic waves will stop.’
12 “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,
    or caused dawn to know its place;
13 that it would take hold of the corners of the earth
    and shake the wicked out of it?
14 It changes shape like clay under a seal—
    they stand out like those of a garment.
15 And from the wicked their light is withheld,
    and the upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have you gone to the springs of the sea,
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the expanses of the earth?
    If you know it all, declare it!
19 In what direction does light dwell,
    and darkness, where is its place—
20 that you can take it to its borders,
    and discern the paths to its home?
21 Surely you know, for you were born then;
    and the number of your days is great!

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of snow
    or seen the storehouses of hail,
23 which I reserved for a time of distress,
    for a day of battle and war?
24 In what direction is light distributed,
    or the east wind scattered over the earth?
25 Who cuts a channel for the flood,
    and a path for the thunderstorm,
26 to cause it to rain on an uninhabited land,
    a desert with no one in it,
27 to satisfy a devastated and desolate land,
    and cause it to sprout grass?
28 Does the rain have a father,
    or who has birthed the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
    Who gives birth to the frost of heaven,
30 when the waters hide like stone,
    and the surface of the deep is frozen?

31 “Can you bind the chains of Pleiades
    or loosen the belt of Orion?
32 Do you bring out the constellations in their season
    or guide the Bear with her cubs?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
    Can you set up dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
    and cover yourself with an abundance of water?
35 Can you send out lightning bolts, so they go?
Will they say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who put wisdom in the secret place
    or gave understanding to the mind?
37 Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
    or tip over the water jars of heaven,
38 when dust hardens into a mass
    and clods of earth stick together?

39 “Do you hunt prey for the lioness
    or satisfy the hunger of young lions,
40 when they crouch in their dens
    or lie in wait in the thicket?
41 Who arranges provision for the raven,
    when its young cry out to God,
and wander about for lack of food?