The Lord Speaks

38 Then the Lord spoke to Job(A) out of the storm.(B) He said:

“Who is this that obscures my plans(C)
    with words without knowledge?(D)
Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.(E)

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?(F)
    Tell me, if you understand.(G)
Who marked off its dimensions?(H) Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line(I) across it?
On what were its footings set,(J)
    or who laid its cornerstone(K)
while the morning stars(L) sang together(M)
    and all the angels[a](N) shouted for joy?(O)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 38:7 Hebrew the sons of God

38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

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34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
    and cover yourself with a flood of water?(A)
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?(B)
    Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who gives the ibis wisdom[a](C)
    or gives the rooster understanding?[b](D)
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
    Who can tip over the water jars(E) of the heavens(F)
38 when the dust becomes hard(G)
    and the clods of earth stick together?(H)

39 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
    and satisfy the hunger of the lions(I)
40 when they crouch in their dens(J)
    or lie in wait in a thicket?(K)
41 Who provides food(L) for the raven(M)
    when its young cry out to God
    and wander about for lack of food?(N)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 38:36 That is, wisdom about the flooding of the Nile
  2. Job 38:36 That is, understanding of when to crow; the meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?

36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

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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