The Lord Speaks from the Whirlwind

Job 38

The Lord answers Job out of the whirlwind, questioning him about the founding of the earth, the bounds of the sea, the dwelling places of light and darkness, the sources of snow, hail, rain, and frost, the ordering of the stars, and the feeding of the raven. Job can answer none of it.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonAFTER Elius had finished his speech, the Lord from a whirlwind and clouds, said to Job:

BrentonAnd after Elius had ceased from speaking, the Lord spoke to Job through the whirlwind and clouds, saying,

GreekΜετὰ δὲ τὸ παύσασθαι Ἐλιοὺν τῆς λέξεως, εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ Ἰὼβ διὰ λαίλαπος καὶ νεφῶν,

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

JPSThen the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

ThomsonWho is this who is concealing counsel from Me, and who hiding words in his heart thinketh to hide them from Me?

BrentonWho is this that hides counsel from me, and confines words in his heart, and thinks to conceal them from me?

GreekΤίς οὗτος ὁ κρύπτων με βουλὴν, συνέχεν δὲ ῥήματα ἐν καρδίᾳ, ἐμὲ δὲ οἴεται κρύπτειν;

KJVWho is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

JPSWho is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?

ThomsonGird up thy loins like a man and I will question thee, and answer thou Me.

BrentonGird thy loins like a man; and I will ask thee, and do thou answer me.

GreekΖώσαι ὥσπερ ἀνὴρ τὴν ὀσφύν σου· ἐρωτήσω δέ σε, σὺ δέ μοι ἀποκρίθητι.

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

JPSGird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.

ThomsonWhere wast thou, when I laid the foundations of the earth? And tell Me, if thou hast understanding,

BrentonWhere wast thou when I founded the earth? tell me now, if thou hast knowledge,

GreekΠοῦ ἦς ἐν τῷ θεμελιοῦν με τὴν γῆν; ἀπάγγειλον δέ μοι εἰ ἐπίστῃ σύνεσιν.

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

JPSWhere wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast the understanding.

Thomsonwho settled the measures of it? Dost thou know? Or who stretched the line upon it?

Brentonwho set the measures of it, if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?

GreekΤίς ἔθετο τὰ μέτρα αὐτῆς, εἰ οἶδας; ἢ τίς ὁ ἐπαγαγὼν σπαρτίον ἐπʼ αὐτῆς;

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

JPSWho determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?

ThomsonTo what are the hooks of it fastened? And who laid the corner-stone thereof?

BrentonOn what are its rings fastened? and who is he that laid the corner-stone upon it?

GreekἘπὶ τίνος οἱ κρίκοι αὐτῆς πεπήγασι; τίς δέ ἐστιν ὁ βαλὼν λίθον γωνιαῖον ἐπʼ αὐτῆς;

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

JPSWhereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,

ThomsonWhen the stars were made, all my angels praised Me with a loud voice.

BrentonWhen the stars were made, all my angels praised me with a loud voice.

GreekὍτε ἐγενήθησαν ἄστρα, ᾔνεσάν με φωνῇ μεγάλῃ πάντες ἄγγελοί μου.

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

JPSWhen the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

ThomsonIt was I who shut up the sea with gates, when it rushed eagerly from its mother’s womb.

BrentonAnd I shut up the sea with gates, when it rushed out, coming forth out of its mother's womb.

GreekἜφραξα δὲ θάλασσαν πύλαις, ὅτε ἐμαίμασσεν ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς αὐγῆς ἐκπορευομένη·

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

JPSOr who shut up the sea with doors, When it broke forth, and issued out of the womb;

ThomsonIt was I who made a cloud its clothing; and thick darkness its swaddling bands.

BrentonAnd I made a cloud its clothing, and swathed it in mist.

GreekἘθέμην δὲ αὐτῇ νέφος ἀμφίασιν, ὁμίχλῃ δὲ αὐτὴν ἐσπαργάνωσα.

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

JPSWhen I made the cloud the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

ThomsonIt was I who set bounds to it; surrounded it with bars and gates;

BrentonAnd I set bounds to it, surrounding it with bars and gates.

GreekἘθέμην δὲ αὐτῇ ὅρια, περιθεὶς κλεῖθρα καὶ πύλας.

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

JPSAnd prescribed for it My decree, And set bars and doors,

Thomsonand said to it, Thus far thou shalt come and no farther: but in thyself thy waves shall be spent.

BrentonAnd I said to it, Hitherto shalt thou come, but thou shalt not go beyond, but thy waves shall be confined within thee.

GreekΕἶπα δὲ αὐτῇ, μέχρι τούτου ἐλεύσῃ, καὶ οὐχ ὑπερβήσῃ, ἀλλʼ ἐν σεαυτῇ συντριβήσεταί σου τὰ κύματα.

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

JPSAnd said: ‘Thus far shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed’?

ThomsonWas it in concert with thee that I ordered the morning light; and that the day spring knew its appointed time

BrentonOr did I order the morning light in thy time; and did the morning star then first see his appointed place;

GreekἪ ἐπὶ σοῦ συντέταχα φέγγος πρωϊνόν; Ἑωσφόρος δὲ ἶδε τὴν ἑαυτοῦ τάξιν,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

Brentonto lay hold of the extremities of the earth, to cast out the ungodly out of it?

Greekἐπιλαβέσθαι πτερύγων γῆς, ἐκτινάξαι ἀσεβεῖς ἐξ αὐτῆς;

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

JPSThat it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

ThomsonDidst thou take clay of the earth and form an animal and place on the earth a creature endowed with speech?

BrentonOr didst thou take clay of the ground, and form a living creature, and set it with the power of speech upon the earth?

GreekἪ σὺ λαβὼν γῆν πηλὸν, ἔπλασας ζῶον, καὶ λαλητὸν αὐτὸν ἔθου ἐπὶ γῆς;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHast thou withdrawn the light from the wicked, and broken in pieces the arms of the haughty?

BrentonAnd hast thou removed light from the ungodly, and crushed the arm of the proud?

GreekἈφεῖλες δὲ ἀπὸ ἀσεβῶν τὸ φῶς, βραχίονα δὲ ὑπερηφάνων συνέτριψας;

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

JPSBut from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken.

ThomsonHast thou gone to the head spring of the sea; and walked in the footsteps of the abyss?

BrentonOr hast thou gone to the source of the sea, and walked in the tracks of the deep?

GreekἮλθες δὲ ἐπὶ πηγὴν θαλάσσης, ἐν δὲ ἴχνεσιν ἀβύσσου περιεπάτησας;

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

JPSHast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep? .

ThomsonAre the gates of Hades opened to thee in fear, and are the porters of Hades struck with awe at seeing thee?

BrentonAnd do the gates of death open to thee for fear; and did the porters of hell quake when they saw thee?

GreekἈνοίγονται δέ σοι φόβῳ πύλαι θανάτου, πυλωροὶ δὲ ᾅδου ἰδόντες σε ἔπτηξαν;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHast thou informed thyself of the breadth of that which is under heaven? Tell Me, then, what is the extent of it.

BrentonAnd hast thou been instructed in the breadth of the whole earth under heaven? tell me now, what is the extent of it?

GreekΝενουθέτησαι δὲ τὸ εὖρος τῆς ὑπʼ οὐρανόν; ἀνάγγειλον δή μοι, πόση τίς ἐστι;

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

JPS—

ThomsonIn what country doth light make its abode, and of what sort is the place of darkness?

BrentonAnd in what kind of a land does the light dwell? and of what kind is the place of darkness?

GreekΠοίᾳ δὲ γῇ αὐλίζεται τὸ φῶς; σκότους δὲ ποῖος ὁ τόπος;

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

JPSWhere is the way to the dwelling of light, And as for darkness, where is the place thereof;

Thomson—

BrentonIf thou couldest bring me to their utmost boundaries, and if also thou knowest their paths;

GreekΕἰ ἀγάγοις με εἰς ὅρια αὐτῶν, εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐπίστασαι τρίβους αὐτῶν·

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonI would know that thou wast then born, and that the number of thy years is great.

BrentonI know then that thou wert born at that time, and the number of thy years is great.

GreekΟἶδα ἄρα ὅτι τότε γεγέννησαι, ἀριθμὸς δὲ ἐτῶν σου πολύς;

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

JPSThou knowest it, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!

ThomsonHast thou gone to the treasuries of snow, or hast thou seen the treasuries of hail?

BrentonBut hast thou gone to the treasures of snow? and hast thou seen the treasures of hail?

GreekἮλθες δὲ ἐπὶ θησαυροὺς χιόνος, θησαυροὺς δὲ χαλάζης ἑώρακας;

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

JPSHast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,

ThomsonAre they stored up for thee, for a time of enemies—for a day of battles and combat?

BrentonAnd is there a store of them, for thee against the time of thine enemies, for the day of wars and battle?

GreekἈπόκειται δέ σοι εἰς ὥραν ἐχθρῶν, εἰς ἡμέραν πολέμων καὶ μάχης;

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

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

ThomsonFrom what place doth hoarfrost issue, or whence is the south wind scattered over the earth?

BrentonAnd whence proceeds the frost? or whence is the south wind dispersed over the whole world under heaven?

GreekΠόθεν δὲ ἐκπορεύεται πάχνη, ἢ διασκεδάννυται Νότος εἰς τὴν ὑπʼ οὐρανόν;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWho hath prepared a course for the tempest,

BrentonAnd who prepared a course for the violent rain, and a way for the thunders;

GreekΤίς δὲ ἡτοίμασεν ὑετῷ λάβρῳ ῥύσιν, ὁδὸν δὲ κυδοιμῶν,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand a way for impetuous storms to water the ground, where there is not a man—the desert where no man dwelleth—to saturate an untrodden, uninhabited land

Brentonto 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,

Greekτοῦ ὑετίσαι ἐπὶ γῆν οὗ οὐκ ἀνήρ, ἔρημον οὗ οὐχ ὑπάρχει ἄνθρωπος ἐν αὐτῇ,

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

JPSTo cause it to rain on a land where no man is, On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

Thomson—

Brentonand cause it to send forth a crop of green herbs?

Greekτοῦ χορτάσαι ἄβατον καὶ ἀοίκητον, καὶ τοῦ ἐκβλαστῆσαι ἔξοδον χλόης;

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

JPSTo satisfy the desolate and waste ground, And to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

ThomsonWho is the father of rain, and who hath begotten the drops of dew?

BrentonWho is the rain's father? and who has generated the drops of dew?

GreekΤίς ἐστιν ὑετοῦ πατήρ; τίς δέ ἐστιν ὁ τετοκὼς βώλους δρόσου;

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

JPSHath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

ThomsonFrom Whose womb doth ice proceed, and Who in the sky hath brought forth hail

BrentonAnd out of whose womb comes the ice? and who has produced the frost in the sky,

GreekἘκ γαστρὸς δὲ τίνος ἐκπορεύεται ὁ κρύσταλλος; πάχνην δὲ ἐν οὐρανῷ τίς τέτοκεν,

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

JPSOut of whose womb came the ice? And the hoar-frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

Thomsonwhich descendeth like a shower? Who hath struck with terror the face of the wicked?

Brentonwhich descends like flowing water? who has terrified the face of the ungodly?

Greekἣ καταβαίνει ὥσπερ ὕδωρ ῥέον; πρόσωπον ἀσεβοῦς τίς ἔπτηξε;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonDost thou know the band of the Pleiades, or hast thou opened the barrier of Orion?

BrentonAnd dost thou understand the band of Pleias, and hast thou opened the barrier of Orion?

GreekΣυνῆκας δὲ δεσμὸν Πλειάδος, καὶ φραγμὸν Ὠρίωνος ἤνοιξας;

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonOr wilt thou reveal Mazuroth in his season, and the evening star with his rays? Wilt thou guide them?

GreekἪ διανοίξεις μαζουρὼθ ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἕσπερον ἐπὶ κόμης αὐτοῦ ἄξεις αὐτά;

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd knowest thou the changes of heaven, or the events which take place together under heaven?

GreekἘπίστασαι δὲ τροπὰς οὐρανοῦ, ἢ τὰ ὑπʼ οὐρανὸν ὁμοθυμαδὸν γινόμενα;

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd wilt thou call a cloud with thy voice, and will it obey thee with a violent shower of much rain?

Greekκαλέσεις δὲ νέφος φωνῇ, καὶ τρόμῳ ὕδατος λάβρου ὑπακούσεταί σου;

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd wilt thou send lightnings, and they shall go? and shall they say to thee, What is thy pleasure?

GreekἈποστελεῖς δὲ κεραυνοὺς καὶ πορεύσονται; ἐροῦσι δέ σοι, τί ἐστι;

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

JPSCanst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee: ‘Here we are’?

ThomsonWho hath given woman a skill in weaving, and a knowledge of the art of embroidering?

BrentonAnd who has given to women skill in weaving, or knowledge of embroidery?

GreekΤίς δὲ ἔδωκε γυναιξὶν ὑφάσματος σοφίαν, ἢ ποικιλτικὴν ἐπιστήμην;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWho is it who numbereth the clouds with wisdom, and hath caused the heaven to incline to the earth, when the earth was poured out like dust, and when I have cemented the very clod as for a stone?

BrentonAnd who is he that numbers the clouds in wisdom, and has bowed the heaven down to the earth?

GreekΤίς δὲ ὁ ἀριθμῶν νέφη σοφίᾳ, οὐρανὸν δὲ εἰς γῆν ἔκλινε;

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

JPSWho can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,

Thomson—

BrentonFor it is spread out as dusty earth, and I have cemented it as one hewn stone to another.

GreekΚέχυται δὲ ὥσπερ γῆ κονία, κεκόλληκα δὲ αὐτὸν ὥσπερ λίθῳ κύβον.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWilt thou hunt the prey for lions, or satisfy the appetites of dragons?

BrentonAnd wilt thou hunt a prey for the lions? and satisfy the desires of the serpents?

GreekΘηρεύσεις δὲ λέουσι βορὰν, ψυχὰς δὲ δρακόντων ἐμπλήσεις;

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

JPSWilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness? Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

ThomsonFor they are trembling for fear in their dens, and lying in ambush in their coverts.

BrentonFor they fear in their lairs, and lying in wait couch in the woods.

GreekΔεδοίκασι γὰρ ἐν κοίταις αὐτῶν, κάθηνται δὲ ἐν ὕλαις ἐνεδρεύοντες.

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

JPSWhen they couch in their dens, And abide in the covert to lie in wait?

ThomsonWho hath provided food for the raven? For his young have cried to the Lord, wandering about in search of provisions.

BrentonAnd who has prepared food for the raven? for its young ones wander and cry to the Lord, in search of food.

GreekΤίς δὲ ἡτοίμασε κόρακι βοράν; νεοσσοὶ γὰρ αὐτοῦ πρὸς Κύριον κεκράγασι πλανώμενοι, τὰ σῖτα ζητοῦντες.

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

JPSWho provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, and wander for lack of food?