The LORD questions Job concerning the created order, confronting the limits of his knowledge and his attempt to contend with God.

1. 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2. 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3. 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4. 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5. 38:5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6. 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7. 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8. 38:8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9. 38:9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10. 38:10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11. 38:11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12. 38:12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13. 38:13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14. 38:14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15. 38:15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
16. 38:16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
17. 38:17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18. 38:18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
19. 38:19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20. 38:20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21. 38:21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
22. 38:22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23. 38:23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24. 38:24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25. 38:25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26. 38:26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27. 38:27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28. 38:28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29. 38:29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30. 38:30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31. 38:31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32. 38:32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33. 38:33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34. 38:34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35. 38:35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36. 38:36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
37. 38:37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38. 38:38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39. 38:39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40. 38:40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41. 38:41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.