Job 38 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,
[2] “Who is this who darkens counsel
by words without knowledge?
[3] Brace yourself like a man,
for I will question you, then you answer me! [4] “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Declare, if you have understanding.
[5] Who determined its measures, if you know?
Or who stretched the line on it?
[6] What were its foundations fastened on?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
[7] when the morning stars sang together,
and all the sons of God shouted for joy? [8] “Or who shut up the sea with doors,
when it broke out of the womb,
[9] when I made clouds its garment,
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
[10] marked out for it my bound,
set bars and doors,
[11] and said, ‘You may come here, but no further.
Your proud waves shall be stopped here’? [12] “Have you commanded the morning in your days,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
[13] that it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
and shake the wicked out of it?
[14] It is changed as clay under the seal,
and presented as a garment.
[15] From the wicked, their light is withheld.
The high arm is broken. [16] “Have you entered into the springs of the sea?
Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
[17] Have the gates of death been revealed to you?
Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
[18] Have you comprehended the earth in its width?
Declare, if you know it all. [19] “What is the way to the dwelling of light?
As for darkness, where is its place,
[20] that you should take it to its bound,
that you should discern the paths to its house?
[21] Surely you know, for you were born then,
and the number of your days is great!
[22] Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
[23] which I have reserved against the time of trouble,
against the day of battle and war?
[24] By what way is the lightning distributed,
or the east wind scattered on the earth? [25] Who has cut a channel for the flood water,
or the path for the thunderstorm,
[26] to cause it to rain on a land where there is no man,
on the wilderness, in which there is no man,
[27] to satisfy the waste and desolate ground,
to cause the tender grass to grow?
[28] Does the rain have a father?
Or who fathers the drops of dew?
[29] Whose womb did the ice come out of?
Who has given birth to the gray frost of the sky?
[30] The waters become hard like stone,
when the surface of the deep is frozen. [31] “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades,
or loosen the cords of Orion?
[32] Can you lead the constellations out in their season?
Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
[33] Do you know the laws of the heavens?
Can you establish its dominion over the earth? [34] “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
that abundance of waters may cover you?
[35] Can you send out lightnings, that they may go?
Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
[36] Who has put wisdom in the inward parts?
Or who has given understanding to the mind?
[37] Who can count the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,
[38] when the dust runs into a mass,
and the clods of earth stick together? [39] “Can you hunt the prey for the lioness,
or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
[40] when they crouch in their dens,
and lie in wait in the thicket?
[41] Who provides for the raven his prey,
when his young ones cry to God,
and wander for lack of food?
[2] “Who is this who darkens counsel
by words without knowledge?
[3] Brace yourself like a man,
for I will question you, then you answer me! [4] “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Declare, if you have understanding.
[5] Who determined its measures, if you know?
Or who stretched the line on it?
[6] What were its foundations fastened on?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
[7] when the morning stars sang together,
and all the sons of God shouted for joy? [8] “Or who shut up the sea with doors,
when it broke out of the womb,
[9] when I made clouds its garment,
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
[10] marked out for it my bound,
set bars and doors,
[11] and said, ‘You may come here, but no further.
Your proud waves shall be stopped here’? [12] “Have you commanded the morning in your days,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
[13] that it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
and shake the wicked out of it?
[14] It is changed as clay under the seal,
and presented as a garment.
[15] From the wicked, their light is withheld.
The high arm is broken. [16] “Have you entered into the springs of the sea?
Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
[17] Have the gates of death been revealed to you?
Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
[18] Have you comprehended the earth in its width?
Declare, if you know it all. [19] “What is the way to the dwelling of light?
As for darkness, where is its place,
[20] that you should take it to its bound,
that you should discern the paths to its house?
[21] Surely you know, for you were born then,
and the number of your days is great!
[22] Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
[23] which I have reserved against the time of trouble,
against the day of battle and war?
[24] By what way is the lightning distributed,
or the east wind scattered on the earth? [25] Who has cut a channel for the flood water,
or the path for the thunderstorm,
[26] to cause it to rain on a land where there is no man,
on the wilderness, in which there is no man,
[27] to satisfy the waste and desolate ground,
to cause the tender grass to grow?
[28] Does the rain have a father?
Or who fathers the drops of dew?
[29] Whose womb did the ice come out of?
Who has given birth to the gray frost of the sky?
[30] The waters become hard like stone,
when the surface of the deep is frozen. [31] “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades,
or loosen the cords of Orion?
[32] Can you lead the constellations out in their season?
Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
[33] Do you know the laws of the heavens?
Can you establish its dominion over the earth? [34] “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
that abundance of waters may cover you?
[35] Can you send out lightnings, that they may go?
Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
[36] Who has put wisdom in the inward parts?
Or who has given understanding to the mind?
[37] Who can count the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,
[38] when the dust runs into a mass,
and the clods of earth stick together? [39] “Can you hunt the prey for the lioness,
or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
[40] when they crouch in their dens,
and lie in wait in the thicket?
[41] Who provides for the raven his prey,
when his young ones cry to God,
and wander for lack of food?
King James Version
The Lord Answered Job
[1] Then the Lord H3068 answered H6030 (QalImpf) Job H347 out of the whirlwind, H5591 and said, H559 (QalImpf)[2] Who is this that darkeneth H2821 (HiphPtc) counsel H6098
By words H4405 without knowledge? H1847
[3] Gird up H247 (QalImpv) now thy loins H2504 like a man; H1397
For I will demand H7592 (QalImpf) of thee, and answer H3045 (HiphImpv) thou me.§
[4] Where H375 wast thou when I laid the foundations H3245 (QalInf) of the earth? H776
Declare, H5046 (HiphImpv) if thou hast H3045 (QalPerf) understanding. H998§
[5] Who hath laid H7760 (QalPerf) the measures H4461 thereof, if thou knowest? H3045 (QalImpf)
Or who hath stretched H5186 (QalPerf) the line H6957 upon it?
[6] Whereupon are the foundations H134§ thereof fastened? H2883 (HophPerf)§
Or who laid H3384 (QalPerf) the corner H6438 stone H68 thereof;
[7] When the morning H1242 stars H3556 sang H7442 (QalInf) together, H3162
And all the sons H1121 of God H430 shouted H7321 (HiphImpf) for joy?
[8] Or who shut up H5526 (HiphImpf) the sea H3220 with doors, H1817
When it brake forth, H1518 (QalInf) as if it had issued out H3318 (QalImpf) of the womb? H7358
[9] When I made H7760 (QalInf) the cloud H6051 the garment H3830 thereof,
And thick darkness H6205 a swaddlingband H2854 for it,
[10] And brake up H7665 (QalImpf) for it my decreed H2706 place,§
And set H7760 (QalImpf) bars H1280 and doors, H1817
[11] And said, H559 (QalImpf) Hitherto H5704 shalt thou come, H935 (QalImpf) but no further: H3254 (HiphImpf)
And here shall thy proud H1347 waves H1530 be stayed? H7896 (QalImpf)
[12] Hast thou commanded H6680 (PielPerf) the morning H1242 since thy days; H3117
And caused the dayspring H7837 to know H3045 (PielPerf) his place; H4725
[13] That it might take hold H270 (QalInf) of the ends H3671§ of the earth, H776
That the wicked H7563 might be shaken out H5287 (NiphImpf) of it?
[14] It is turned H2015 (HithImpf) as clay H2563 to the seal; H2368
And they stand H3320 (HithImpf) as a garment. H3830
[15] And from the wicked H7563 their light H216 is withholden, H4513 (NiphImpf)
And the high H7311 (QalActPtc) arm H2220 shall be broken. H7665 (NiphImpf)
[16] Hast thou entered H935 (QalPerf) into the springs H5033 of the sea? H3220
Or hast thou walked H1980 (HithPerf) in the search H2714 of the depth? H8415
[17] Have the gates H8179 of death H4194 been opened H1540 (NiphPerf) unto thee?
Or hast thou seen H7200 (QalImpf) the doors H8179 of the shadow of death? H6757
[18] Hast thou perceived H995 (HiplPerf) the breadth H7338 of the earth? H776
Declare H5046 (HiphImpv) if thou knowest H3045 (QalPerf) it all.
[19] Where is the way H1870 where light H216 dwelleth? H7931 (QalImpf)
And as for darkness, H2822 where is the place H4725 thereof,
[20] That thou shouldest take H3947 (QalImpf) it to§ the bound H1366 thereof,
And that thou shouldest know H995 (QalImpf) the paths H5410 to the house H1004 thereof?
[21] Knowest H3045 (QalPerf) thou it, because thou wast then born? H3205 (NiphImpf)
Or because the number H4557 of thy days H3117 is great? H7227
[22] Hast thou entered H935 (QalPerf) into the treasures H214 of the snow? H7950
Or hast thou seen H7200 (QalImpf) the treasures H214 of the hail, H1259
[23] Which I have reserved H2820 (QalPerf) against the time H6256 of trouble, H6862
Against the day H3117 of battle H7128 and war? H4421
[24] By what H335 way H1870 is the light H216 parted, H2505 (NiphImpf)
Which scattereth H6327 (HiphImpf) the east wind H6921 upon the earth? H776
[25] Who hath divided H6385 (PielPerf) a watercourse H8585 for the overflowing of waters, H7858
Or a way H1870 for the lightning H2385 of thunder; H6963
[26] To cause it to rain H4305 (HiphInf) on the earth, H776 where no man H376 is;
On the wilderness, H4057 wherein there is no man; H120
[27] To satisfy H7646 (HiphInf) the desolate H7722 and waste H4875 ground;
And to cause the bud H4161 of the tender herb H1877 to spring forth? H6779 (HiphInf)
[28] Hath H3426 the rain H4306 a father? H1
Or who hath begotten H3205 (HiphPerf) the drops H96 of dew? H2919
[29] Out of whose womb H990 came H3318 (QalPerf) the ice? H7140
And the hoary frost H3713 of heaven, H8064 who hath gendered H3205 (QalPerf) it?
[30] The waters H4325 are hid H2244 (HithImpf) as with a stone, H68
And the face H6440 of the deep H8415 is frozen. H3920 (HithImpf)§
[31] Canst thou bind H7194 (PielImpf) the sweet influences H4575 of Pleiades, H3598
Or loose H6605 (PielImpf) the bands H4189 of Orion? H3685§
[32] Canst thou bring forth H3318 (HiphImpf) Mazzaroth H4216§ in his season? H6256
Or canst thou guide H5148 (HiphImpf)§ Arcturus H5906 with his sons? H1121
[33] Knowest H3045 (QalPerf) thou the ordinances H2708 of heaven? H8064
Canst thou set H7760 (QalImpf) the dominion H4896 thereof in the earth? H776
[34] Canst thou lift up H7311 (HiphImpf) thy voice H6963 to the clouds, H5645
That abundance H8229 of waters H4325 may cover H3680 (PielImpf) thee?
[35] Canst thou send H7971 (PielImpf) lightnings, H1300 that they may go, H3212 (QalImpf)
And say H559 (QalImpf) unto thee, Here we are?§
[36] Who hath put H7896 (QalPerf) wisdom H2451 in the inward parts? H2910
Or who hath given H5414 (QalPerf) understanding H998 to the heart? H7907
[37] Who can number H5608 (PielImpf) the clouds H7834 in wisdom? H2451
Or who can stay H7901 (HiphImpf)§ the bottles H5035 of heaven, H8064
[38] When the dust H6083§ groweth H3332 (QalInf)§ into hardness, H4165
And the clods H7263 cleave fast together? H1692 (PualImpf)
[39] Wilt thou hunt H6679 (QalImpf) the prey H2964 for the lion? H3833
Or fill H4390 (PielImpf) the appetite H2416§ of the young lions, H3715
[40] When they couch H7817 (QalImpf) in their dens, H4585
And abide H3427 (QalImpf) in the covert H5521 to H3926 lie in wait? H695
[41] Who provideth H3559 (HiphImpf) for the raven H6158 his food? H6718
When his young ones H3206 cry H7768 (PielImpf) unto God, H410
They wander H8582 (QalImpf) for lack H1097 of meat. H400
Footnotes
- § 38:3 Heb. make me know
- § 38:4 Heb. if thou knowest understanding
- § 38:6a Heb. sockets
- § 38:6b Heb. made to sink
- § 38:10 Or, established my decree upon it
- § 38:13 Heb. wings
- § 38:20 Or, at
- § 38:30 Heb. is taken
- § 38:31 Heb. Cesil
- § 38:32a Or, the twelve signs
- § 38:32b Heb. guide them
- § 38:35 Heb. behold us
- § 38:37 Heb. who can cause to lie down
- § 38:38a Or, when the dust is turned into mire:
- § 38:38b Heb. is poured
- § 38:39 Heb. the life
Byzantine Greek New Testament
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