Parallel Bible results for "job 38"

Job 38

New International Version NIV

1 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

2 “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?

3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.

5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?

6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—

7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,

9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,

10 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,

11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?

12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place,

13 that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?

14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.

15 The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?

17 Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?

18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.

19 “What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?

20 Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?

21 Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail,

23 which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?

24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?

25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm,

26 to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert,

27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass?

28 Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew?

29 From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens

30 when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?

31 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt?

32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasonsor lead out the Bear with its cubs?

33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?

35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?

36 Who gives the ibis wisdomor gives the rooster understanding?

37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens

38 when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?

39 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions

40 when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket?

41 Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?

The Message Bible MSG

1 And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said:

2 "Why do you confuse the issue? Why do you talk without knowing what you're talking about?

3 Pull yourself together, Job! Up on your feet! Stand tall! I have some questions for you, and I want some straight answers.

4 Where were you when I created the earth? Tell me, since you know so much!

5 Who decided on its size? Certainly you'll know that! Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?

6 How was its foundation poured, and who set the cornerstone,

7 While the morning stars sang in chorus and all the angels shouted praise?

8 And who took charge of the ocean when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb?

9 That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds, and tucked it in safely at night.

10 Then I made a playpen for it, a strong playpen so it couldn't run loose,

11 And said, 'Stay here, this is your place. Your wild tantrums are confined to this place.'

12 "And have you ever ordered Morning, 'Get up!' told Dawn, 'Get to work!'

13 So you could seize Earth like a blanket and shake out the wicked like cockroaches?

14 As the sun brings everything to light, brings out all the colors and shapes,

15 The cover of darkness is snatched from the wicked - they're caught in the very act!

16 "Have you ever gotten to the true bottom of things, explored the labyrinthine caves of deep ocean?

17 Do you know the first thing about death? Do you have one clue regarding death's dark mysteries?

18 And do you have any idea how large this earth is? Speak up if you have even the beginning of an answer.

19 "Do you know where Light comes from and where Darkness lives

20 So you can take them by the hand and lead them home when they get lost?

21 Why, of course you know that. You've known them all your life, grown up in the same neighborhood with them!

22 "Have you ever traveled to where snow is made, seen the vault where hail is stockpiled,

23 The arsenals of hail and snow that I keep in readiness for times of trouble and battle and war?

24 Can you find your way to where lightning is launched, or to the place from which the wind blows?

25 Who do you suppose carves canyons for the downpours of rain, and charts the route of thunderstorms

26 That bring water to unvisited fields, deserts no one ever lays eyes on,

27 Drenching the useless wastelands so they're carpeted with wildflowers and grass?

28 And who do you think is the father of rain and dew,

29 the mother of ice and frost?

30 You don't for a minute imagine these marvels of weather just happen, do you?

31 "Can you catch the eye of the beautiful Pleiades sisters, or distract Orion from his hunt?

32 Can you get Venus to look your way, or get the Great Bear and her cubs to come out and play?

33 Do you know the first thing about the sky's constellations and how they affect things on Earth?

34 "Can you get the attention of the clouds, and commission a shower of rain?

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?

36 "Who do you think gave weather-wisdom to the ibis, and storm-savvy to the rooster?

37 Does anyone know enough to number all the clouds or tip over the rain barrels of heaven

38 When the earth is cracked and dry, the ground baked hard as a brick?

39 "Can you teach the lioness to stalk her prey and satisfy the appetite of her cubs

40 As they crouch in their den, waiting hungrily in their cave?

41 And who sets out food for the ravens when their young cry to God, fluttering about because they have no food?