The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said:
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Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 "Why do you confuse the issue? Why do you talk without knowing what you're talking about?
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Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Pull yourself together, Job! Up on your feet! Stand tall! I have some questions for you, and I want some straight answers.
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Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where were you when I created the earth? Tell me, since you know so much!
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Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who decided on its size? Certainly you'll know that! Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?
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Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 How was its foundation poured, and who set the cornerstone,
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Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 While the morning stars sang in chorus and all the angels shouted praise?
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When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 And who took charge of the ocean when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb?
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Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9 That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds, and tucked it in safely at night.
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When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10 Then I made a playpen for it, a strong playpen so it couldn't run loose,
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And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, 'Stay here, this is your place. Your wild tantrums are confined to this place.'
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And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 "And have you ever ordered Morning, 'Get up!' told Dawn, 'Get to work!'
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Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 So you could seize Earth like a blanket and shake out the wicked like cockroaches?
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That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 As the sun brings everything to light, brings out all the colors and shapes,
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It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 The cover of darkness is snatched from the wicked - they're caught in the very act!
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And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
16 "Have you ever gotten to the true bottom of things, explored the labyrinthine caves of deep ocean?
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Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
17 Do you know the first thing about death? Do you have one clue regarding death's dark mysteries?
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Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 And do you have any idea how large this earth is? Speak up if you have even the beginning of an answer.
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Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
19 "Do you know where Light comes from and where Darkness lives
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Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20 So you can take them by the hand and lead them home when they get lost?
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That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21 Why, of course you know that. You've known them all your life, grown up in the same neighborhood with them!
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Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
22 "Have you ever traveled to where snow is made, seen the vault where hail is stockpiled,
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Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 The arsenals of hail and snow that I keep in readiness for times of trouble and battle and war?
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Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 Can you find your way to where lightning is launched, or to the place from which the wind blows?
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By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who do you suppose carves canyons for the downpours of rain, and charts the route of thunderstorms
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Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 That bring water to unvisited fields, deserts no one ever lays eyes on,
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To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 Drenching the useless wastelands so they're carpeted with wildflowers and grass?
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To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 And who do you think is the father of rain and dew,
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Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 the mother of ice and frost?
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Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 You don't for a minute imagine these marvels of weather just happen, do you?
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The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 "Can you catch the eye of the beautiful Pleiades sisters, or distract Orion from his hunt?
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Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Can you get Venus to look your way, or get the Great Bear and her cubs to come out and play?
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Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Do you know the first thing about the sky's constellations and how they affect things on Earth?
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Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 "Can you get the attention of the clouds, and commission a shower of rain?
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Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Can you take charge of the lightning bolts and have them report to you for orders? What Do You Have to Say for Yourself?
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Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36 "Who do you think gave weather-wisdom to the ibis, and storm-savvy to the rooster?
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Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
37 Does anyone know enough to number all the clouds or tip over the rain barrels of heaven
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Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 When the earth is cracked and dry, the ground baked hard as a brick?
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When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 "Can you teach the lioness to stalk her prey and satisfy the appetite of her cubs
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Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 As they crouch in their den, waiting hungrily in their cave?
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When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 And who sets out food for the ravens when their young cry to God, fluttering about because they have no food?
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Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.