New Living Translation NLT
King James Version KJV
1 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:
1
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
2
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
3
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.
4
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?
5
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone
6
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
7
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb,
8
Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9 and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?
9
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10 For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.
10
And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’
11
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
12
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?
13
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors.
14
It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.
15
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths?
16
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
17 Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
17
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!
18
Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
19 “Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?
19
Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20 Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?
20
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21 But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!
21
Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
22 “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail?
22
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war.)
23
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind?
24
By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25 “Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning?
25
Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives?
26
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up?
27
To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 “Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew?
28
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?
29
Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.
30
The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars— binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion?
31
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
32
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?
33
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 “Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?
34
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?
35
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind?
36
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
37
Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?
38
When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 “Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions’ appetites
39
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 as they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket?
40
When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?
41
Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.