Job Chapter 38
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
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And cast up their way against me,
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And encamp round about my tent.
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He hath put my brethren far from me,
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And mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me.
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My kinsfolk have failed,
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And my familiar friends have forgotten me.
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They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger:
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I am an alien in their sight.
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I call unto my servant, and he giveth me no answer,
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Though I entreat him with my mouth.
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My breath is strange to my wife,
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And my supplication to the children of mine own mother.
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Even young children despise me;
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If I arise, they speak against me.
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All my familiar friends abhor me,
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And they whom I loved are turned against me.
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My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh,
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And I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
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Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends;
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For the hand of God hath touched me.
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Why do ye persecute me as God,
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And are not satisfied with my flesh?
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Oh that my words were now written!
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Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
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That with an iron pen and lead
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They were graven in the rock for ever!
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But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth,
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And at last he will stand up upon the earth:
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And after my skin,
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even this
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body, is destroyed,
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Then without my flesh shall I see God;
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Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side,
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And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger.
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My heart is consumed within me.
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If ye say, How we will persecute him!
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And that the root of the matter is found in me;
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Be ye afraid of the sword:
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For wrath
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bringeth the punishments of the sword,
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That ye may know there is a judgment.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
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And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
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Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
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Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
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Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
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Who set the measures thereof — if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
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Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,
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When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons ofGod shouted for joy?
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And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb?
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When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;
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When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,
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And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
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Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou caused the dawn to know its place,
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That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked might be shaken out of it?
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It is changed like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:
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And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
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Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
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Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? and hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
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Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
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Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,
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That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?
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Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
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Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
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Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war?
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By what way is the light parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?
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Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;
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To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man;
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To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground], and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth?
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Hath the rain a father? or who begetteth the drops of dew?
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Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?
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When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.
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Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
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Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?
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Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
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Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee?
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Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
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Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?
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Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,
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When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
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Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
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When they crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?
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Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry untoGod, [and] they wander for lack of meat?
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
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And after Elius had ceased from speaking, the Lord spoke to Job through the whirlwind and clouds, [saying],
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Who is this that hides counsel from me, and confines words in [his] heart, and thinks to conceal [them] from me?
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Gird thy loins like a man; and I will ask thee, and do thou answer me.
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Where wast thou when I founded the earth? tell me now, if thou hast knowledge,
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who set the measures of it, if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
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On what are its rings fastened? and who is he that laid the corner-stone upon it?
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When the stars were made, all my angels praised me with a loud voice.
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And I shut up the sea with gates, when it rushed out, coming forth out of its mother's womb.
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And I made a cloud its clothing, and swathed it in mist.
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And I set bounds to it, surrounding it with bars and gates.
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And I said to it, Hitherto shalt thou come, but thou shalt not go beyond, but thy waves shall be confined within thee.
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Or did I order the morning light in thy time; and [did] the morning star [then first] see his appointed place;
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to lay hold of the extremities of the earth, to cast out the ungodly out of it?
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Or didst thou take clay of the ground, and form a living creature, and set it with the power of speech upon the earth?
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And hast thou removed light from the ungodly, and crushed the arm of the proud?
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Or hast thou gone to the source of the sea, and walked in the tracks of the deep?
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And do the gates of death open to thee for fear; and did the porters of hell quake when they saw thee?
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And hast thou been instructed in the breadth of the [whole earth] under heaven? tell me now, what is the extent of it?
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And in what kind of a land does the light dwell? and of what kind is the place of darkness?
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If thou couldest bring me to their [utmost] boundaries, and if also thou knowest their paths;
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I know then that thou wert born at that time, and the number of thy years is great.
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But hast thou gone to the treasures of snow? and hast thou seen the treasures of hail?
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And is there a store [of them], for thee against the time of [thine] enemies, for the day of wars and battle?
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And whence proceeds the frost? or [whence] is the south wind dispersed over the [whole world] under heaven?
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And who prepared a course for the violent rain, and a way for the thunders;
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to rain upon the land where [there is] no man, the wilderness, where there is not a man in it; so as to feed the untrodden and uninhabited [land],
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and cause it to send forth a crop of green herbs?
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Who is the rain's father? and who has generated the drops of dew?
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And out of whose womb comes the ice? and who has produced the frost in the sky,
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which descends like flowing water? who has terrified the face of the ungodly?
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And dost thou understand the band of Pleias, and hast thou opened the barrier of Orion?
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Or wilt thou reveal Mazuroth in his season, and the evening star with his rays? Wilt thou guide them?
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And knowest thou the changes of heaven, or the events which take place together under heaven?
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And wilt thou call a cloud with thy voice, and will it obey thee with a violent shower of much rain?
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And wilt thou send lightnings, and they shall go? and shall they say to thee, What is [thy pleasure]?
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And who has given to women skill in weaving, or knowledge of embroidery?
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And who is he that numbers the clouds in wisdom, and has bowed the heaven [down] to the earth?
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For it is spread out as dusty earth, and I have cemented it as one hewn stone to another.
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And wilt thou hunt a prey for the lions? and satisfy the desires of the serpents?
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For they fear in their lairs, and lying in wait couch in the woods.
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And who has prepared food for the raven? for its young ones wander and cry to the Lord, in search of food.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
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Respondens autem Dominus Iob de turbine, dixit:
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Quis est iste involvens sententias sermonibus imperitis?
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Accinge sicut vir lumbos tuos: interrogabo te, et responde mihi.
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Ubi eras quando ponebam fundamenta terræ? indica mihi si habes intelligentiam.
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Quis posuit mensuras eius, si nosti? vel quis tetendit super eam lineam?
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Super quo bases illius solidatæ sunt? aut quis demisit lapidem angularem eius,
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Cum me laudarent simul astra matutina, et iubilarent omnes filii Dei?
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Quis conclusit ostiis mare, quando erumpebat quasi de vulva procedens:
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Cum ponerem nubem vestimentum eius, et caligine illud quasi pannis infantiæ obvolverem?
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Circumdedi illud terminis meis, et posui vectem, et ostia:
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Et dixi: Usque huc venies, et non procedes amplius, et hic confringes tumentes fluctus tuos.
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Numquid post ortum tuum præcepisti diluculo, et ostendisti auroræ locum suum?
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Et tenuisti concutiens extrema terræ, et excussisti impios ex ea?
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Restituetur ut lutum signaculum, et stabit sicut vestimentum:
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Auferetur ab impiis lux sua, et brachium excelsum confringetur.
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Numquid ingressus es profunda maris, et in novissimis abyssi deambulasti?
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Numquid apertæ sunt tibi portæ mortis, et ostia tenebrosa vidisti?
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Numquid considerasti latitudinem terræ? indica mihi, si nosti, omnia,
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In qua via lux habitet, et tenebrarum quis locus sit:
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Ut ducas unumquodque ad terminos suos, et intelligas semitas domus eius.
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Sciebas tunc quod nasciturus esses? et numerum dierum tuorum noveras?
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Numquid ingressus es thesauros nivis, aut thesauros grandinis aspexisti,
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Quæ præparavi in tempus hostis, in diem pugnæ et belli?
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Per quam viam spargitur lux, dividitur æstus super terram?
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Quis dedit vehementissimo imbri cursum, et viam sonantis tonitrui,
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Ut plueret super terram absque homine in deserto, ubi nullus mortalium commoratur,
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Ut impleret inviam et desolatam, et produceret herbas virentes?
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Quis est pluviæ pater? vel quis genuit stillas roris?
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De cuius utero egressa est glacies? et gelu de cælo quis genuit?
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In similitudinem lapidis aquæ durantur, et superficies abyssi constringitur.
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Numquid coniungere valebis micantes stellas Pleiadas, aut gyrum Arcturi poteris dissipare?
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Numquid producis Luciferum in tempore suo, et Vesperum super filios terræ consurgere facis?
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Numquid nosti ordinem cæli, et pones rationem eius in terra?
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Numquid elevabis in nebula vocem tuam, et impetus aquarum operiet te?
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Numquid mittes fulgura, et ibunt, et revertentia dicent tibi: Adsumus?
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Quis posuit in visceribus hominis sapientiam? vel quis dedit gallo intelligentiam?
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Quis enarrabit cælorum rationem, et concentum cæli quis dormire faciet?
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Quando fundebatur pulvis in terra, et glebæ compingebantur?
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Numquid capies leænæ prædam, et animam catulorum eius implebis,
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Quando cubant in antris, et in specubus insidiantur?
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Quis præparat corvo escam suam, quando pulli eius clamant ad Deum, vagantes, eo quod non habeant cibos?
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
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Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,
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“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
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Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!
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“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
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Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
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What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone,
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when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
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“Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out of the womb,
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when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,
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marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,
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and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’?
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“Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place,
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that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?
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It is changed as clay under the seal, and presented as a garment.
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From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.
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“Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
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Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
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Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all.
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“What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,
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that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
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Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
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Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
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which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
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By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?
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Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm,
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to cause it to rain on a land where there is no man, on the wilderness, in which there is no man,
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to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to grow?
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Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?
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Whose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the gray frost of the sky?
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The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.
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“Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
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Can you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
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Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?
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“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
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Can you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
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Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
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Who can count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,
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when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?
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“Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
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when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
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Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
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And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: --
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Who <FI>is<Fi> this--darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?
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Gird, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.
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Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.
5
Who placed its measures--if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?
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On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?
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In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,
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And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out.
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In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,
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And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,
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And say, `Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'
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Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou the dawn to know its place?
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To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,
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It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.
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And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.
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Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?
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Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?
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Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare--if thou hast known it all.
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Where <FI>is<Fi> this--the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where <FI>is<Fi> this--its place?
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That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.
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Thou hast known--for then thou art born And the number of thy days <FI>are<Fi> many!
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Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?
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That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle.
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Where <FI>is<Fi> this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.
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Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?
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To cause <FI>it<Fi> to rain on a land--no man, A wilderness--no man in it.
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To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?
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Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
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From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?
30
As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.
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Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?
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Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?
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Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?
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Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?
35
Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, `Behold us?'
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Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?
37
Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,
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In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?
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Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?
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When they bow down in dens--Abide in a thicket for a covert?
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Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).