English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

1Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind. He said:

2“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

2Who is this who obscures my counsel with ignorant words?

3Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

3Get ready to answer me like a man; when I question you, you will inform me.

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

4Where were you when I established the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

5Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?

5Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?

6On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,

6What supports its foundations? Or who laid its cornerstone

7when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

7while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8“Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb,

8Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst from the womb,

9when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band,

9when I made the clouds its garment and total darkness its blanket,

10and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors,

10when I determined its boundaries and put its bars and doors in place,

11and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

11when I declared: "You may come this far, but no farther; your proud waves stop here"?

12“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,

12Have you ever in your life commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place,

13that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?

13so it may seize the edges of the earth and shake the wicked out of it?

14It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment.

14The earth is changed as clay is by a seal; its hills stand out like the folds of a garment.

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

15Light is withheld from the wicked, and the arm raised in violence is broken.

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

16Have you traveled to the sources of the sea or walked in the depths of the oceans?

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

17Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

18Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.

18Have you comprehended the extent of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.

19“Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,

19Where is the road to the home of light? Do you know where darkness lives,

20that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?

20so you can lead it back to its border? Are you familiar with the paths to its home?

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

21Don't you know? You were already born; you have lived so long!

22“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

22Have you entered the place where the snow is stored? Or have you seen the storehouses of hail,

23which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?

23which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of warfare and battle?

24What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?

24What road leads to the place where light is dispersed? Where is the source of the east wind that spreads across the earth?

25“Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt,

25Who cuts a channel for the flooding rain or clears the way for lightning,

26to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man,

26to bring rain on an uninhabited land, on a desert with no human life,

27to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass?

27to satisfy the parched wasteland and cause the grass to sprout?

28“Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew?

28Does the rain have a father? Who fathered the drops of dew?

29From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?

29Whose womb did the ice come from? Who gave birth to the frost of heaven

30The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

30when water becomes as hard as stone, and the surface of the watery depths is frozen?

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

31Can you fasten the chains of the Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion?

32Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children?

32Can you bring out the constellations in their season and lead the Bear and her cubs?

33Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?

33Do you know the laws of heaven? Can you impose its authority on earth?

34“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you?

34Can you command the clouds so that a flood of water covers you?

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

35Can you send out lightning bolts, and they go? Do they report to you: "Here we are"?

36Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?

36Who put wisdom in the heart or gave the mind understanding?

37Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,

37Who has the wisdom to number the clouds? Or who can tilt the water jars of heaven

38when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast together?

38when the dust hardens like cast metal and the clods of dirt stick together?

39“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

39Can you hunt prey for a lioness or satisfy the appetite of young lions

40when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket?

40when they crouch in their dens and lie in wait within their lairs?

41Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?

41Who provides the raven's food when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.