Good News Translation GNT
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job.
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Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:
2 Who are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words?
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"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Now stand up straight and answer the questions I ask you.
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Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me.
4 Were you there when I made the world? If you know so much, tell me about it.
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"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who decided how large it would be? Who stretched the measuring line over it? Do you know all the answers?
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Who determined its measurements--surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 What holds up the pillars that support the earth? Who laid the cornerstone of the world?
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On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,
7 In the dawn of that day the stars sang together, and the heavenly beings shouted for joy.
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when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Who closed the gates to hold back the sea when it burst from the womb of the earth?
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"Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth from the womb;
9 It was I who covered the sea with clouds and wrapped it in darkness.
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when I made clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 I marked a boundary for the sea and kept it behind bolted gates.
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and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors,
11 I told it, "So far and no farther! Here your powerful waves must stop."
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and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
12 Job, have you ever in all your life commanded a day to dawn?
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"Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 Have you ordered the dawn to seize the earth and shake the wicked from their hiding places?
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that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 Daylight makes the hills and valleys stand out like the folds of a garment, clear as the imprint of a seal on clay.
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It is changed like clay under the seal, and it is dyed like a garment.
15 The light of day is too bright for the wicked and restrains them from doing violence.
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From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.
16 Have you been to the springs in the depths of the sea? Have you walked on the floor of the ocean?
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"Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Has anyone ever shown you the gates that guard the dark world of the dead?
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Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18 Have you any idea how big the world is? Answer me if you know.
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Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.
19 Do you know where the light comes from or what the source of darkness is?
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"Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,
20 Can you show them how far to go, or send them back again?
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that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?
21 I am sure you can, because you're so old and were there when the world was made!
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You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
22 Have you ever visited the storerooms, where I keep the snow and the hail?
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"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 I keep them ready for times of trouble, for days of battle and war.
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which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?
24 Have you been to the place where the sun comes up, or the place from which the east wind blows?
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What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
25 Who dug a channel for the pouring rain and cleared the way for the thunderstorm?
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"Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain, and a way for the thunderbolt,
26 Who makes rain fall where no one lives?
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to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man;
27 Who waters the dry and thirsty land, so that grass springs up?
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to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground put forth grass?
28 Does either the rain or the dew have a father?
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"Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 Who is the mother of the ice and the frost,
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From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the hoarfrost of heaven?
30 which turn the waters to stone and freeze the face of the sea?
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The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Can you tie the Pleiades together or loosen the bonds that hold Orion?
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"Can you bind the chains of the Plei'ades, or loose the cords of Orion?
32 Can you guide the stars season by season and direct the Big and the Little Dipper?
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Can you lead forth the Maz'zaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children?
33 Do you know the laws that govern the skies, and can you make them apply to the earth?
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Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?
34 Can you shout orders to the clouds and make them drench you with rain?
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"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you?
35 And if you command the lightning to flash, will it come to you and say, "At your service"?
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Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, 'Here we are'?
36 Who tells the ibis when the Nile will flood, or who tells the rooster that rain will fall?
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Who has put wisdom in the clouds, or given understanding to the mists?
37 Who is wise enough to count the clouds and tilt them over to pour out the rain,
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Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
38 rain that hardens the dust into lumps?
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when the dust runs into a mass and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Do you find food for lions to eat, and satisfy hungry young lions
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"Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they hide in their caves, or lie in wait in their dens?
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when they crouch in their dens, or lie in wait in their covert?
41 Who is it that feeds the ravens when they wander about hungry, when their young cry to me for food?
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Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.