Job 38
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1Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:1Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:
2"Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?2“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
3Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.3Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
4"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.
5Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?5Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?
6On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone--6What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone
7while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?7as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
8"Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,8“Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb,
9when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,9and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,10For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.
11when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?11I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’
12"Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place,12“Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
13that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?13Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?
14The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.14As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors.
15The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.15The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.
16"Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?16“Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths?
17Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?17Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
18Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.18Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!
19"What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?19“Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?
20Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?20Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?
21Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!21But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!
22"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail,22“Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail?
23which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?23(I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war.)
24What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?24Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind?
25Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm,25“Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning?
26to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert,26Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives?
27to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass?27Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up?
28Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew?28“Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew?
29From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens29Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?
30when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?30For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.
31"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion's belt?31“Can you direct the movement of the stars— binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion?
32Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?32Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
33Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?33Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?
34"Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?34“Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?
35Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'?35Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?
36Who gives the ibis wisdom or gives the rooster understanding?36Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind?
37Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens37Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
38when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?38when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?
39"Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions39“Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions’ appetites
40when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket?40as they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket?
41Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?41Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?
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Job 37
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