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38:1  The Lord spoke to Job out of a storm. He said,
38:2  “Who do you think you are to disagree with my plans? You do not know what you are talking about.
38:3  Get ready to stand up for yourself. I will ask you some questions. Then I want you to answer me.
38:4  “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you know.
38:5  Who measured it? I am sure you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
38:6  What was it built on? Who laid its most important stone?
38:7  When it happened, the morning stars sang together. All the angels shouted with joy.
38:8  “Who created the ocean? Who caused it to be born?
38:9  I put clouds over it as if they were its clothes. I wrapped it in thick darkness.
38:10  I set limits for it. I put its doors and metal bars in place.
38:11  I said, ‘You can come this far. But you can’t come any farther. Here is where your proud waves have to stop.’
38:12  “Job, have you ever commanded the morning to come? Have you ever shown the sun where to rise?
38:13  The daylight takes the earth by its edges as if it were a blanket. Then it shakes sinful people out of it.
38:14  The earth takes shape like clay stamped with an official’s mark. Its features stand out like the different parts of your clothes.
38:15  Sinners would rather have darkness than light. When the light comes, their power is broken.
38:16  “Have you traveled to the springs at the bottom of the ocean? Have you walked in its deepest parts?
38:17  Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
38:18  Do you understand how big the earth is? Tell me, if you know all these things.
38:19  “Where does light come from? And where does darkness live?
38:20  Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their houses?
38:21  I am sure you know! After all, you were already born! You have lived so many years!
38:22  “Have you entered the places where the snow is kept? Have you seen the storerooms for the hail?
38:23  I store up snow and hail for times of trouble. I keep them for days of war and battle.
38:24  Where does lightning come from? Where do the east winds live that blow across the earth?
38:25  Who tells the rain where it should fall? Who makes paths for the thunderstorms?
38:26  They bring water to places where no one lives. They water deserts that do not have anyone in them.
38:27  They satisfy the needs of dry and empty lands. They make grass start growing there.
38:28  Does the rain have a father? Who is the father of the drops of dew?
38:29  Does the ice have a mother? Who is the mother of the frost from the heavens?
38:30  The waters become as hard as stone. The surface of the ocean freezes over.
38:31  “Can you tie up the cords of the Pleiades? Can you untie the belt that Orion wears?
38:32  Can you bring out all the stars in their seasons? Can you lead out the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper?
38:33  Do you know the laws that govern the heavens? Can you rule over the earth the way I do?
38:34  “Can you give orders to the clouds? Can you make them pour rain down on you?
38:35  Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
38:36  Who gives the ibis wisdom? Who gives the rooster understanding?
38:37  Who is wise enough to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens?
38:38  I tip them over when the ground becomes hard. I do it when the dirt sticks together.
38:39  “Do you hunt for food for mother lions? Do you satisfy the hunger of their cubs?
38:40  Some of them lie low in their dens. Others lie waiting in the bushes.
38:41  Who provides food for ravens when their babies cry out to me? They wander around because they do not have anything to eat.