King James New American Standard Bible
  • 1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
  • 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
  • 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
  • 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
  • 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
  • 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
  • 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 brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
  • 9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
  • 10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
  • 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
  • 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
  • 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
  • 14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
  • 15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
  • 16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
  • 17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
  • 18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
  • 19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
  • 20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
  • 21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
  • 22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures 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 light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
  • 25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
  • 26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
  • 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
  • 28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
  • 29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
  • 30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
  • 31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
  • 32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
  • 33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
  • 34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
  • 35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
  • 36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
  • 37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
  • 38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
  • 39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
  • 40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
  • 41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
  • 1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
  • 2 “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
  • 3 “Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
  • 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding,
  • 5 Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it?
  • 6 “On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone,
  • 7 When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
  • 8 “Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
  • 9 When I made a cloud its garment And thick darkness its swaddling band,
  • 10 And I placed boundaries on it And set a bolt and doors,
  • 11 And I said, 'Thus far you shall come, but no farther; And here shall your proud waves stop'?
  • 12 “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place,
  • 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
  • 14 “It is changed like clay under the seal; And they stand forth like a garment.
  • 15 “From the wicked their light is withheld, And the uplifted arm is broken.
  • 16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea Or walked in the recesses of the deep?
  • 17 “Have the gates of death been revealed to you, Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
  • 18 “Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.
  • 19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,
  • 20 That you may take it to its territory And that you may discern the paths to its home?
  • 21 “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 for the time of distress, For the day of war and battle?
  • 24 “Where is the way that the light is divided, Or the east wind scattered on the earth?
  • 25 “Who has cleft a channel for the flood, Or a way for the thunderbolt,
  • 26 To bring rain on a land without people, On a desert without a man in it,
  • 27 To satisfy the waste and desolate land And to make the seeds of grass to sprout?
  • 28 “Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
  • 29 “From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
  • 30 “Water becomes hard like stone, And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.
  • 31 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion?
  • 32 “Can you lead forth a constellation in its season, And guide the Bear with her satellites?
  • 33 “Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, Or fix their rule over the earth?
  • 34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, So that an abundance of water will cover you?
  • 35 “Can you send forth lightnings that they may go And say to you, 'Here we are'?
  • 36 “Who has put wisdom in the innermost being Or given understanding to the mind?
  • 37 “Who can count the clouds by wisdom, Or tip the water jars of the heavens,
  • 38 When the dust hardens into a mass And the clods stick together?
  • 39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
  • 40 When they crouch in their dens And lie in wait in their lair?
  • 41 “Who prepares for the raven its nourishment When its young cry to God And wander about without food?
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission.