Job 38

CHAPTER 38

The LORD Questions Job

1And after the ceasing [³of Elihu ¹of the ²speech], [³said ¹the ² lord]   to Job through a tempest and cloud, saying, 2Who is this   hiding counsel, and constraining matters in heart, [⁴from me ¹and ²imagines ³to hide]? 3Tie up [²as ³a man   ¹your loin]! And I will ask you, and you answer me! 4Where were you in   my laying the foundation for the earth? And report to me! if you should have knowledge of understanding. 5Who established the measures of it, if you know? Or who is the one bringing a measuring cord upon it? 6Upon what   are its hooks pitched on? And who is the one laying [²foundation ³stone ¹an angular] upon it? 7When [²came to pass ¹the stars], [³praised ⁴me ⁶a great voice ⁵with ¹all ²my angels]. 8And I shut up the sea with gates, when it was led irresistibly [²out of ⁴belly ³its mother's ¹going forth]. 9And I established the cloud for its clothing, and fog for its being swaddled. 10And I established limits for it, I put in place  bolts and gates. 11And I said to it, Unto this far  you shall come, and shall not pass over; and within yourself [³shall break ¹your   ²waves]. 12Or by you have I ordered [²brightness ¹the early morning]? And did the morning star behold   his own order; 13to take hold of the wings of the earth, to shake off the impious from it. 14Or did you, having taken earth's clay, shape a living creature, and [²the power of speech ³to it ¹establish] upon the earth? 15And have you removed [³from ⁴the impious ¹the ²light], [³the arm ¹and ⁴of the proud ²broke]? 16Did you come unto the spring of the sea, [³in ¹and ⁴the tracks ⁵of the deep ²walk]? 17[⁴open ¹And ⁵to you ⁶in fear ²do the gates ³of death]; and did gatekeepers of Hades, in beholding you, become alarmed? 18And have you been admonished about the breadth   under heaven? Announce it indeed to me! how great it is. 19And of what kind of land lodges the light? And darkness, what kind   of place? 20If you could lead me into their limits, and even if you know their paths. 21Have you known that it is so then because you were born, and the number of your years great? 22But did you come unto the treasuries of snow? [³the treasuries ¹and ⁴of hail ²have you seen]? 23And is it reserved to you for the hour of the enemies, for the day of war and battle? 24And from what place goes forth the frost, or [²is dispersed ¹the south wind] into the place  under heaven? 25And who prepared [³rain ²of the fierce ¹the flow], and a way in uproar; 26  to rain upon the land of which there is no man, the wilderness of which there is no [²existing ¹man] in it; 27  so as to fill the untrodden and uninhabited land, and the causing to sprout forth the issue of tender shoots? 28Who is the rain's father, and who is the one giving birth to droplets of dew? 29[²from out of ⁴womb ¹And ³whose] comes forth the ice; [⁴the frost ¹and ⁵in ⁶the heaven ²who ³gave birth to], 30which comes down as if water flowing? [⁴the face ¹And ⁵of the abyss ²who ³alarmed]? 31And do you perceive the bond of Pleiades; and [²the barrier ³of Orion ¹did you open]? 32Or will you open Mazuroth in its time? And Hesperus with its tail -- will you lead it? 33And do you know the circuits of heaven, or the things  [³under ⁴heaven ²with one accord ¹taking place]? 34And will you call a cloud by voice, and in trembling [³water of rain  ²the fierce ¹will] obey you? 35And will you send thunderbolts? and will they go forth? and shall they say to you, What is it? 36And who gave women [²for a woven work ¹wisdom], or [²for embroidery ¹skill]? 37And who is  the one counting clouds in wisdom, [³the heaven ¹and ⁴unto ⁵the earth ²leaned], 38and it is poured as earth's powder, and I have cleaved it as a stone cube? 39And will you hunt [²for the lions ¹a prey]? [³the souls ¹and ⁴of dragons ²fill up]? 40for they are in awe in their lairs, and they sit in the woods lying in wait. 41And who prepared [²for the crow ¹carrion]? [³young ¹for ²its ⁶to ⁷the lord  ⁵cry out ⁴in wandering   ⁹grain ⁸seeking].