Job 38
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New King James VersionNew Living Translation
1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:1Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:
2“Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?2“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
3Now prepare 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 foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.
5Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?5Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?
6To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,6What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone
7When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?7as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
8“Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued 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 thick darkness its swaddling band;9and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;10For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.
11When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’11I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’
12“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place,12“Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?13Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?
14It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment.14As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors.
15From the wicked their light is withheld, And the upraised arm is broken.15The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.
16“Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?16“Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths?
17Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?17Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
18Have you comprehended the breadth 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“Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,19“Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?
20That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home?20Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?
21Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number of your days is great?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 treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail,22“Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail?
23Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?23(I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war.)
24By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?24Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind?
25“Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, Or a path for the thunderbolt,25“Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning?
26To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man;26Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives?
27To satisfy the desolate waste, And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?27Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up?
28Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?28“Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew?
29From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?29Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?
30The waters harden like stone, And 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 cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion?31“Can you direct the movement of the stars— binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion?
32Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great 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 ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?33Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?
34“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you?34“Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?
35Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?35Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?
36Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?36Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind?
37Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,37Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
38When the dust hardens in clumps, And the clods cling together?38when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?
39“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,39“Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions’ appetites
40When they crouch in their dens, Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?40as they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket?
41Who provides food for the raven, When its young ones cry 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?
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Job 37
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