Job 38

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 But the Lord, responding to Job from a whirlwind, said:	1 Then the LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:
2 Who is this that wraps sentences in unskilled words?	2 Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance?
3 Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me.	3 Gird up your loins now, like a man; I will question you, and you tell me the answers!
4 Where were you, when I set the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.	4 Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who set its measurements, if you know, or who stretched a line over it?	5 Who determined its size; do you know? Who stretched out the measuring line for it?
6 Upon what have its bases been grounded, and who set forth its cornerstone,	6 Into what were its pedestals sunk, and who laid the cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars praised me together, and all the sons of God made a joyful noise?	7 While the morning stars sang in chorus and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Who enclosed the sea with doors, when it broke forth as if issuing from the womb,	8 And who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb;
9 when I stationed a cloud as its garment and wrapped it in a mist as if swaddling an infant?	9 When I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bands?
10 I encircled it with my limits, and I positioned its bars and doors.	10 When I set limits for it and fastened the bar of its door,
11 And I said: “This far you will approach, and you will proceeded no further, and here you will break your swelling waves.”	11 And said: Thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stilled!
12 Did you, after your birth, command the birth of the sun and show the sunrise its place?	12 Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place
13 And did you hold the extremities of the earth, shaking them, and have you shaken the impious out of it?	13 For taking hold of the ends of the earth, till the wicked are shaken from its surface?
14 The seal will be restored like clay, and it will remain in place like a garment.	14 The earth is changed as is clay by the seal, and dyed as though it were a garment;
15 From the impious, the light will be taken away, and the exalted arm will be broken.	15 But from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm of pride is shattered.
16 Have you entered the depths of the sea, and have you taken a walk in the uttermost parts of the abyss?	16 Have you entered into the sources of the sea, or walked about in the depths of the abyss?
17 Have the gates of death been opened to you, and have you seen the doors of darkness?	17 Have the gates of death been shown to you, or have you seen the gates of darkness?
18 Have you considered the breadth of the earth? If you know all things, reveal them to me.	18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell me, if you know all:
19 Which is the way that holds the light, and which is the place of darkness?	19 Which is the way to the dwelling place of light, and where is the abode of darkness,
20 In this way, you might lead each thing to its final place, and understand the paths of its house.	20 That you may take them to their boundaries and set them on their homeward paths?
21 So then, did you know when you were to be born? And did you know the number of your days?	21 You know, because you were born before them, and the number of your years is great!
22 Have you been admitted into the storehouses of the snows, and have you gazed upon the stockpile of the brimstone,	22 Have you entered the storehouse of the snow, and seen the treasury of the hail
23 which I have prepared for the time of the enemy, for the day of the battle and the war?	23 Which I have reserved for times of stress, for the days of war and of battle?
24 In what way is the light scattered, and the heat distributed, over the earth?	24 Which way to the parting of the winds, whence the east wind spreads over the earth?
25 Who gave a course to the rainstorms, and a path to the resounding thunder,	25 Who has laid out a channel for the downpour and for the thunderstorm a path
26 so that it would rain on the earth far from man, in the wilderness where no mortal lingers,	26 To bring rain to no man's land, the unpeopled wilderness;
27 so that it would fill impassable and desolate places, and would bring forth green plants?	27 To enrich the waste and desolate ground till the desert blooms with verdure?
28 Who is the father of rain, or who conceived the drops of dew?	28 Has the rain a father; or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb did the ice proceed, and who created the frost from the air?	29 Out of whose womb comes the ice, and who gives the hoarfrost its birth in the skies,
30 The waters are hardened to become like stone, and the surface of the abyss freezes over.	30 When the waters lie covered as though with stone that holds captive the surface of the deep?
31 Will you have the strength to join together the sparkling stars of the Pleiades, or are you able to disperse the circling of Arcturus?	31 Have you fitted a curb to the Pleiades, or loosened the bonds of Orion?
32 Can you bring forth the morning star, in its time, and make the evening star rise over the sons of the earth?	32 Can you bring forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or guide the Bear with its train?
33 Do you know the order of heaven, and can you explain its rules here on the earth?	33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens; can you put into effect their plan on the earth?
34 Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that an onslaught of waters will cover you?	34 Can you raise your voice among the clouds, or veil yourself in the waters of the storm?
35 Can you send forth lightning bolts, and will they go, and on returning, say to you: “Here we are?”	35 Can you send forth the lightnings on their way, or will they say to you, "Here we are"?
36 Who placed discernment in the guts of man, or who gave the rooster intelligence?	36 Who puts wisdom in the heart, and gives the cock its understanding?
37 Who can describe the rules of the heavens, or who can put to rest the harmony of heaven?	37 Who counts the clouds in his wisdom? Or who tilts the water jars of heaven
38 When was the dust cast to become the earth, and when were its clods fastened together?	38 So that the dust of earth is fused into a mass and its clods made solid?
39 Will you seize prey for the lioness, and will you sustain the lives of her young,	39 Do you hunt the prey for the lioness or appease the hunger of her cubs,
40 as they rest in their dens or lie in wait in pits?	40 While they crouch in their dens, or lie in wait in the thicket?
41 Who provides the raven with its meal, when her chicks cry out to God, as they wander around because they have no food?	41 Who provides nourishment for the ravens when their young ones cry out to God, and they rove abroad without food?