King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
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Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job.
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
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Who are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
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Now stand up straight and answer the questions I ask you.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
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Were you there when I made the world? If you know so much, tell me about it.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
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Who decided how large it would be? Who stretched the measuring line over it? Do you know all the answers?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
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What holds up the pillars that support the earth? Who laid the cornerstone of the world?
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
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In the dawn of that day the stars sang together, and the heavenly beings 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?
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Who closed the gates to hold back the sea when it burst from the womb of the earth?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
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It was I who covered the sea with clouds and wrapped it in darkness.
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
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I marked a boundary for the sea and kept it behind bolted gates.
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
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I told it, "So far and no farther! Here your powerful waves must stop."
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
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Job, have you ever in all your life commanded a day to dawn?
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
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Have you ordered the dawn to seize the earth and shake the wicked from their hiding places?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
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Daylight makes the hills and valleys stand out like the folds of a garment, clear as the imprint of a seal on clay.
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
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The light of day is too bright for the wicked and restrains them from doing violence.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
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Have you been to the springs in the depths of the sea? Have you walked on the floor of the ocean?
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
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Has anyone ever shown you the gates that guard the dark world of the dead?
18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
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Have you any idea how big the world is? Answer me if you know.
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
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Do you know where the light comes from or what the source of darkness is?
20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
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Can you show them how far to go, or send them back again?
21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
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I am sure you can, because you're so old and were there when the world was made!
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
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Have you ever visited the storerooms, where I keep the snow and the hail?
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
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I keep them ready for times of trouble, for days of battle and war.
24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
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Have you been to the place where the sun comes up, or the place from which the east wind blows?
25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
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Who dug a channel for the pouring rain and cleared the way for the thunderstorm?
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
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Who makes rain fall where no one lives?
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
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Who waters the dry and thirsty land, so that grass springs up?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
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Does either the rain or the dew have a father?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
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Who is the mother of the ice and the frost,
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
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which turn the waters to stone and freeze the face of the sea?
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
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Can you tie the Pleiades together or loosen the bonds that hold Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
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Can you guide the stars season by season and direct the Big and the Little Dipper?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
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Do you know the laws that govern the skies, and can you make them apply to the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
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Can you shout orders to the clouds and make them drench you with rain?
35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
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And if you command the lightning to flash, will it come to you and say, "At your service"?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
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Who tells the ibis when the Nile will flood, or who tells the rooster that rain will fall?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
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Who is wise enough to count the clouds and tilt them over to pour out the rain,
38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
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rain that hardens the dust into lumps?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
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Do you find food for lions to eat, and satisfy hungry young lions
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
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when they hide in their caves, or lie in wait in their dens?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
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Who is it that feeds the ravens when they wander about hungry, when their young cry to me for food?
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.