[1] Then the Lord spoke to Job from a whirlwind. God said:
[2] “Who is this ignorant person that is saying these foolish things?”
[3] Job, brace yourself and get ready to answer the questions that I will ask you.
[4] “Job, where were you when I made the earth? If you are so smart, then answer me.
[5] If you are so smart, Who decided how big the world would be? Who measured the world with a measuring line?
[6] What is the earth resting on? Who put the first stone in its place?
[7] The morning stars sang together and the angels shouted with joy when that was done!
[8] “Job, who closed the gates to stop the sea when it flowed from deep in the earth?
[9] At that time I covered it with clouds, and wrapped it in darkness.
[10] I set the limits for the sea and put it behind locked gates.
[11] I said to the sea, 'You can come this far, but no farther. This is where your proud waves will stop.’
[12] “Job, did you ever in your life command the morning to start or the day to begin?
[13] Job, did you ever tell the morning light to grab the earth and shake the evil people out of their hiding places?
[14] The morning light makes the hills and the valleys easy to see. When the daylight comes to the earth, the shapes of those places stand out like the folds of a coat. Those places take shape like soft clay that is pressed with a stamp.
[15] Evil people don’t like the daylight. When it shines bright, it stops them from doing their bad things.
[16] “Job, have you ever gone to the deepest parts of the sea where the sea begins? Have you ever walked on the ocean bottom?
[17] Job, have you ever seen the gates leading to the world of the dead? Have you ever seen the gates leading to that dark place of death?
[18] Job, do you really understand how large the earth is? Tell me, if you know all this.
[19] “Job, where does light come from? Where does darkness come from?
[20] Job, can you take light and dark back to the place they came from? Do you know how to go to that place?
[21] Surely you know these things, Job. You are very old and wise. You were alive when I made those things, weren’t you?
[22] “Job, have you ever gone into the storerooms where I keep the snow and the hail?
[23] I save the snow and the hail for times of trouble, for the times of war and battle.
[24] Have you ever gone to the place where the sun comes up, where it makes the east wind blow all over the earth?
[25] Who dug ditches in the sky for the heavy rain? Who made a path for the thunderstorm?
[26] Who makes it rain even in places where no people live?
[27] That rain gives plenty of water to that empty land and grass begins to grow.
[28] Does the rain have a father? Who produces the drops of dew?
[29] Does ice have a mother? Who gives birth to the hail?
[30] Water freezes as hard as a rock. And even the ocean freezes over!
[31] “Job, can you tie up the Pleiades? Can you unfasten the belt of Orion?
[32] Can you bring out the constellations at the right times? Or can you lead out the Bear with its cubs?
[33] Do you know the laws that control the sky? Can you make them rule over the earth?
[34] “Job, can you shout at the clouds and command them to cover you with rain?
[35] Can you give a command to the lightning? Will it come to you and say, 'Here we are. What do you want, sir?’ Will it go wherever you want it to go?
[36] “Job, who makes people wise? Who puts wisdom deep inside of them?
[37] Who is wise enough to count the clouds and tip them over to pour out their rain?
[38] So the dust becomes mud and the clods of dirt stick together.
[39] “Job, do you find food for the lions? Do you feed their hungry babies?
[40] Those lions lie down in their caves, they crouch down in the grass ˻ready to attack their prey˼.
[41] Who feeds the ravens when their babies yell out to God and wander around without food?