New King James Version | New 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. |
|