Job 38 אִיּוֹב פרק ל״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Job 38 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיַּעַן־יְהֹוָהvay/YA/an-Adonaithen answered the LORDאֶת־אִיּוֹבet-Iy/YOVJob[מִןminout ofהַסְּעָרָה]has/se/a/RAthe whirlwindוַיֹּאמַר׃vay/yo/MARand said

   Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2. 2

   מִיmiwhoזֶהzethisמַחְשִׁיךְmach/SHIKHthat darkensעֵצָהe/TSAcounselבְמִלִּיןve/mil/LINby wordsבְּלִי־דָעַת׃be/LI-DA/atwithout knowledge

   Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3. 3

   אֱזׇר־נָאe/ZOR-nagird up nowכְגֶבֶרkhe/GE/verlike a manחֲלָצֶיךָcha/la/TSE/khayour loinsוְאֶשְׁאָלְךָve/esh/a/le/KHAfor I will ask youוְהוֹדִיעֵנִי׃ve/ho/di/E/niand you make Me know

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

4. 4

   אֵיפֹהe/FOwhereהָיִיתָha/YI/tawere youבְּיׇסְדִי־אָרֶץbe/yos/DI-A/retswhen I laid the foundations of the earthהַגֵּדhag/GEDtellאִם־יָדַעְתָּim-ya/DA/taif you haveבִינָה׃vi/NAunderstanding

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

5. 5

   מִי־שָׂםmi-samwho determinedמְמַדֶּיהָme/mad/de/HAits measurementsכִּיkisurelyתֵדָעte/DAyou knowאוֹoorמִי־נָטָהmi-na/TAwho stretchedעָלֶיהָa/LE/haupon itקָּו׃kava line

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

6. 6

   עַל־מָהal-maupon whatאֲדָנֶיהָa/da/NE/haits basesהׇטְבָּעוּhot/BA/uwere sunkאוֹoorמִי־יָרָהmi-ya/RAwho laidאֶבֶןE/venthe stone ofפִּנָּתָהּ׃pin/na/TAits corner

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

7. 7

   בְּרׇן־יַחַדbe/RON-YA/chadwhen sang togetherכּוֹכְבֵיKOKH/vethe stars ofבֹקֶרVO/kerthe morningוַיָּרִיעוּvay/ya/RI/uand shoutedכׇּל־בְּנֵיkol-be/NEall the sons ofאֱלֹהִים׃e/lo/HIMGod

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

8. 8

   וַיָּסֶךְvay/YA/sekhor who shut inבִּדְלָתַיִםbid/la/TA/yimwith doorsיָםyamthe seaבְּגִיחוֹbe/gi/CHOwhen it broke forthמֵרֶחֶםme/RE/chemfrom the womb ofיֵצֵא׃ye/TSEit issued

   Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

9. 9

   בְּשׂוּמִיbe/su/MIwhen I madeעָנָןa/NANthe cloudלְבֻשׁוֹle/vu/SHOits garmentוַעֲרָפֶלva/a/ra/FELand thick darknessחֲתֻלָּתוֹ׃cha/tul/la/TOits swaddling band

   When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10. 10

    וָאֶשְׁבֹּרva/esh/BORand brokeעָלָיוa/LAYVupon itחֻקִּיchuk/KIMy limitוָאָשִׂיםva/a/SIMand setבְּרִיחַbe/RI/acha barוּדְלָתָיִם׃u/de/la/TA/yimand doors

    And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11. 11

    וָאֹמַרva/o/MARand I saidעַד־פֹּהad-pothis farתָבוֹאta/VOshall you comeוְלֹאve/LOand notתֹסִיףto/SIFfurtherוּפֹא־יָשִׁיתu/FO-ya/SHITand here shall be stoppedבִּגְאוֹןbig/ONin the pride ofגַּלֶּיךָ׃gal/LE/khayour waves

    And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12. 12

    הֲמִיָּמֶיךָha/miy/ya/me/KHAin your daysצִוִּיתָtsiv/VI/tahave you commandedבֹּקֶרBO/kerthe morning(ידעתהyadtahשחר)shachar[יִדַּעְתָּyid/DA/tahave you caused to knowהַשַּׁחַר]hash/SHA/charthe dawnמְקֹמוֹ׃me/ko/MOits place

    Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13. 13

    לֶאֱחֹזle/e/CHOZthat it might take holdבְּכַנְפוֹתbe/khan/FOTon the corners ofהָאָרֶץha/A/retsthe earthוְיִנָּעֲרוּve/yin/na/a/RUand might be shakenרְשָׁעִיםre/sha/IMthe wickedמִמֶּנָּה׃mim/MEN/naout of it

    That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14. 14

    תִּתְהַפֵּךְtit/hap/PEKHit is changedכְּחֹמֶרke/CHO/merlike clayחוֹתָםcho/TAMunder the sealוְיִתְיַצְּבוּve/yit/yats/tse/VUand they stand outכְּמוֹke/MOlikeלְבוּשׁ׃le/VUSHa garment

    It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15. 15

    וְיִמָּנַעve/yim/ma/NAand is withheldמֵרְשָׁעִיםmer/sha/IMfrom the wickedאוֹרָםo/RAMtheir lightוּזְרוֹעַu/ze/RO/aand the armרָמָהra/MAupliftedתִּשָּׁבֵר׃tish/sha/VERis broken

    And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16. 16

    הֲבָאתָha/va/TAhave you enteredעַד־נִבְכֵי־יָםad-niv/KHE-yaminto the springs of the seaוּבְחֵקֶרu/ve/CHE/keror in the recesses ofתְּהוֹםte/HOMthe deepהִתְהַלָּכְתָּ׃hit/hal/LAKH/tahave you walked

    Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17. 17

    הֲנִגְלוּha/nig/LUhave been revealedלְךָle/KHAto youשַׁעֲרֵי־מָוֶתsha/a/RE-MA/vetthe gates of deathוְשַׁעֲרֵיve/sha/a/REand the gates ofצַלְמָוֶתtsal/MA/vetthe shadow of deathתִּרְאֶה׃tir/Ehave you seen

    Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18. 18

    הִתְבֹּנַנְתָּhit/bo/nan/TAhave you surveyedעַד־רַחֲבֵי־אָרֶץad-ra/cha/VE-A/retsthe breadth of the earthהַגֵּדhag/GEDtellאִם־יָדַעְתָּim-ya/DA/taif you knowכֻלָּהּ׃khul/LAall this

    Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

19. 19

    אֵי־זֶהe-zewhere isהַדֶּרֶךְhad/DE/rekhthe way toיִשְׁכׇּן־אוֹרyish/KON-orwhere light dwellsוְחֹשֶׁךְve/CHO/shekhand darknessאֵי־זֶהe-zewhere isמְקֹמוֹ׃me/ko/MOits place

    Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

20. 20

    כִּיkithatתִקָּחֶנּוּtik/ka/chen/NUyou should take itאֶל־גְּבוּלוֹel-ge/vu/LOto its borderוְכִי־תָבִיןve/KHI-ta/VINand that you should discernנְתִיבוֹתne/ti/VOTthe paths toבֵּיתוֹ׃be/TOits house

    That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21. 21

    יָדַעְתָּya/DA/tayou knowכִּי־אָזki-azfor thenתִּוָּלֵדtiv/va/LEDyou were bornוּמִסְפַּרu/mis/PARand the number ofיָמֶיךָya/ME/khayour daysרַבִּים׃rab/BIMis great

    Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22. 22

    הֲבָאתָha/va/TAhave you enteredאֶל־אֹצְרוֹתel-ots/ROTinto the storehouses ofשָׁלֶגSHA/legsnowוְאוֹצְרוֹתve/ots/ROTor the storehouses ofבָּרָדba/RADhailתִּרְאֶה׃tir/Ehave you seen

    Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23. 23

    אֲשֶׁר־חָשַׂכְתִּיa/SHER-cha/SAKH/tiwhich I have reservedלְעֶת־צָרle/ET-tsarfor the time of troubleלְיוֹםle/YOMfor the day ofקְרָבke/RAVbattleוּמִלְחָמָה׃u/mil/cha/MAand war

    Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

24. 24

    אֵי־זֶהe-zewhere isהַדֶּרֶךְhad/DE/rekhthe wayיֵחָלֶקye/CHA/lekis distributedאוֹרorthe lightיָפֵץya/FETSscattersקָדִיםka/DIMthe east windעֲלֵי־אָרֶץ׃a/LE-A/retson the earth

    By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25. 25

    מִי־פִלַּגmi-fil/LAGwho has cutלַשֶּׁטֶףlash/SHE/teffor the waterfloodתְּעָלָהte/a/LAa channelוְדֶרֶךְve/DE/rekhand a wayלַחֲזִיזla/cha/ZIZfor the lightning ofקֹלוֹת׃ko/LOTthunders

    Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26. 26

    לְהַמְטִירle/ham/TIRto send rainעַל־אֶרֶץal-E/retson a landלֹא־אִישׁlo-ishwhere no man isמִדְבָּרmid/BARa wildernessלֹא־אָדָםlo-a/DAMwith no manבּוֹ׃boin it

    To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

27. 27

    לְהַשְׂבִּיעַle/has/BI/ato satisfyשֹׁאָהsho/Athe desolateוּמְשֹׁאָהu/me/sho/Aand wasteוּלְהַצְמִיחַu/le/hats/MI/achand to make sproutמֹצָאMO/tsathe shoots ofדֶשֶׁא׃DE/shegrass

    To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28. 28

    הֲיֵשׁ־לַמָּטָרha/YESH-lam/ma/TARis there for the rainאָבava fatherאוֹoorמִי־הוֹלִידmi-ho/LIDwho has begottenאֶגְלֵי־טָל׃eg/LE-talthe drops of dew

    Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29. 29

    מִבֶּטֶןmib/BE/tenfrom the wombמִיmiwhoיָצָאya/TSAcameהַקָּרַחhak/KA/rachthe iceוּכְפֹרu/khe/FORand the hoarfrost ofשָׁמַיִםsha/MA/yimthe heavensמִיmiwhoיְלָדוֹ׃ye/la/DOhas given it birth

    Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30. 30

    כָּאֶבֶןka/E/venlike stoneמַיִםMA/yimthe watersיִתְחַבָּאוּyit/chab/BA/uhide themselvesוּפְנֵיu/fe/NEand the face ofתְהוֹםte/HOMthe deepיִתְלַכָּדוּ׃yit/lak/KA/duis frozen

    The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31. 31

    הַתְקַשֵּׁרhat/kash/SHERcan you bindמַעֲדַנּוֹתma/a/dan/NOTthe chains ofכִּימָהKi/MAthe Pleiadesאוֹ־מֹשְׁכוֹתo-mosh/KHOTor the bands ofכְּסִילKe/SILOrionתְּפַתֵּחַ׃te/fat/TE/achcan you loosen

    Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32. 32

    הֲתֹצִיאha/to/TSIwill you lead outמַזָּרוֹתMaz/za/ROTMazzarothבְּעִתּוֹbe/it/TOin their seasonוְעַיִשׁve/A/yishor the Bearעַל־בָּנֶיהָal-ba/NE/hawith her sonsתַנְחֵם׃tan/CHEMcan you guide

    Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

33. 33

    הֲיָדַעְתָּha/ya/DA/tado you knowחֻקּוֹתchuk/KOTthe ordinances ofשָׁמָיִםsha/MA/yimthe heavensאִם־תָּשִׂיםim-ta/SIMcan you setמִשְׁטָרוֹmish/ta/ROits ruleבָאָרֶץ׃va/A/retson the earth

    Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34. 34

    הֲתָרִיםha/ta/RIMcan you lift upלָעָבla/AVto the cloudsקוֹלֶךָko/LE/khayour voiceוְשִׁפְעַת־מַיִםve/shif/AT-MA/yimthat a flood of watersתְּכַסֶּךָּ׃te/khas/SEK/kamay cover you

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

35. 35

    הַתְשַׁלַּחhat/shal/LACHwill you send forthבְּרָקִיםbe/ra/KIMlightningsוְיֵלֵכוּve/ye/LE/khuthat they may goוְיֹאמְרוּve/yo/me/RUand sayלְךָle/KHAto youהִנֵּנוּ׃hin/NE/nuhere are we

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

36. 36

    מִי־שָׁתmi-shatwho has putבַּטֻּחוֹתbat/tu/CHOTin the inner partsחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomאוֹoorמִי־נָתַןmi-na/TANwho has givenלַשֶּׂכְוִיlas/SEKH/vito the mindבִינָה׃vi/NAunderstanding

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

37. 37

    מִי־יְסַפֵּרmi-ye/sap/PERwho can numberשְׁחָקִיםshe/cha/KIMthe cloudsבְּחׇכְמָהbe/chokh/MAby wisdomוְנִבְלֵיve/niv/LEor the jars ofשָׁמַיִםsha/MA/yimthe heavensמִיmiwhoיַשְׁכִּיב׃yash/KIVcan tip

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

38. 38

    בְּצֶקֶתbe/TSE/ketwhen is pouredעָפָרa/FARthe dustלַמּוּצָקlam/mu/TSAKinto a massוּרְגָבִיםu/re/ga/VIMand the clodsיְדֻבָּקוּ׃ye/dub/BA/kustick together

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

39. 39

    הֲתָצוּדha/ta/TSUDwill you huntלְלָבִיאle/la/VIfor the lionessטָרֶףTA/refpreyוְחַיַּתve/chay/YATor the appetite ofכְּפִירִיםke/fi/RIMyoung lionsתְּמַלֵּא׃te/mal/LEsatisfy

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

40. 40

    כִּי־יָשֹׁחוּki-ya/SHO/chuwhen they crouchבַמְּעוֹנוֹתvam/me/o/NOTin the densיֵשְׁבוּyesh/VUthey sitבַסֻּכָּהvas/suk/KAin the thicketלְמוֹ־אָרֶב׃le/MO-A/revto lie in wait

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

41. 41

    מִיmiwhoיָכִיןya/KHINpreparesלָעֹרֵבla/o/REVfor the ravenצֵידוֹtse/DOits foodכִּי־יְלָדָוki-ye/la/DAVwhen its youngאֶל־אֵלel-elto Godיְשַׁוֵּעוּye/shav/VE/ucry for helpיִתְעוּyit/Uthey wanderלִבְלִי־אֹכֶל׃liv/LI-O/khelfor lack of food

    Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.