2 “Who is this that obscures my plans

with words without knowledge?

3 Brace yourself like a man;

I will question you,

and you shall answer me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?

Tell me, if you understand.

5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!

Who stretched a measuring line across it?

6 On what were its footings set,

or who laid its cornerstone—

7 while the morning stars sang together

and all the angels shouted for joy?

8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors

when it burst forth from the womb,

9 when I made the clouds its garment

and wrapped it in thick darkness,

10 when I fixed limits for it

and set its doors and bars in place,

11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;

here is where your proud waves halt’?

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel

By words without knowledge?

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man;

For I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest?

Or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened?

Or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7 When the morning stars sang together,

And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors,

When it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof,

And thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place,

And set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further:

And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom

with such ignorant words?

3 Brace yourself like a man,

because I have some questions for you,

and you must answer them.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell me, if you know so much.

5 Who determined its dimensions

and stretched out the surveying line?

6 What supports its foundations,

and who laid its cornerstone

7 as the morning stars sang together

and all the angels shouted for joy?

8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries

as it burst from the womb,

9 and as I clothed it with clouds

and wrapped it in thick darkness?

10 For I locked it behind barred gates,

limiting its shores.

11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come.

Here your proud waves must stop!’

2 “Who is this who darkens counsel

By words without knowledge?

3 Now prepare yourself like a man;

I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell Me, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements?

Surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 To what were its foundations fastened?

Or who laid its cornerstone,

7 When the morning stars sang together,

And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors,

When it burst forth and issued from the womb;

9 When I made the clouds its garment,

And thick darkness its swaddling band;

10 When I fixed My limit for it,

And set bars and doors;

11 When I said,

‘This far you may come, but no farther,

And here your proud waves must stop!’

2 “Who is this that makes my purpose unclear

by saying things that are not true?

3 Be strong like a man!

I will ask you questions,

and you must answer me.

4 Where were you when I made the earth’s foundation?

Tell me, if you understand.

5 Who marked off how big it should be? Surely you know!

Who stretched a ruler across it?

6 What were the earth’s foundations set on,

or who put its cornerstone in place

7 while the morning stars sang together

and all the angels shouted with joy?

8 “Who shut the doors to keep the sea in

when it broke through and was born,

9 when I made the clouds like a coat for the sea

and wrapped it in dark clouds,

10 when I put limits on the sea

and put its doors and bars in place,

11 when I said to the sea, ‘You may come this far, but no farther;

this is where your proud waves must stop’?

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel

By words without knowledge?

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man;

For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest?

Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened?

Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,

7 When the morning stars sang together,

And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors,

When it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb;

9 When I made clouds the garment thereof,

And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,

10 And marked out for it my bound,

And set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further;

And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.

4 Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who set the measures thereof—if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it? 6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb? 9 When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it; 10 When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

2 “Who is this that belittles my advice 

with words that do not show any knowledge ⸤about it⸥? 

3 Brace yourself like a man! 

I will ask you, and you will teach me. 

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? 

Tell me if you have ⸤such⸥ insight. 

5 Who determined its dimensions? 

Certainly, you know! 

Who stretched a measuring line over it? 

6 On what were its footings sunk? 

Who laid its cornerstone 

7 when the morning stars sang together 

and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 

8 “Who shut the sea behind gates 

when it burst through and came out of the womb, 

9 when I clothed it with clouds 

and wrapped it up in dark clouds, 

10 when I set a limit for it 

and put up bars and gates, 

11 when I said, ‘You may come this far but no farther. 

Here your proud waves will stop’? 

2 Who is this who obscures My counsel

with ignorant words?

3 Get ready to answer Me like a man;

when I question you, you will inform Me.

4 Where were you when I established the earth?

Tell Me, if you have understanding.

5 Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know!

Who stretched a measuring line across it?

6 What supports its foundations?

Or who laid its cornerstone

7 while the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 Who enclosed the sea behind doors

when it burst from the womb,

9 when I made the clouds its garment

and thick darkness its blanket,

10 when I determined its boundaries

and put its bars and doors in place,

11 when I declared: “You may come this far, but no farther;

your proud waves stop here”?

2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

3 Gird up your loins like a man,

I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone

7 when the morning stars sang together

and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors

when it burst out from the womb?—

9 when I made the clouds its garment,

and thick darkness its swaddling band,

10 and prescribed bounds for it,

and set bars and doors,

11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,

and here shall your proud waves be stopped’?

2 “Who is this darkening counsel

by words without knowledge?

3 Prepare yourself for a difficult task like a man,

and I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

4 “Where were you at my laying the foundation of the earth?

Tell me, if you possess understanding.

5 Who determined its measurement? Yes, you do know.

Or who stretched the measuring line upon it?

6 On what were its bases sunk?

Or who laid its cornerstone,

7 when the morning stars were singing together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Or who shut the sea in with doors

at its bursting, when it went out of the womb,

9 at my making the clouds its garment

and thick darkness its swaddling band,

10 and I prescribed my rule for it,

and I set bars and doors,

11 and I said, ‘You shall come up to here, but you shall not go further,

and here it will set a boundary for your proud surging waves’?

2 “Who do you think you are to disagree with my plans?

You do not know what you are talking about.

3 Get ready to stand up for yourself.

I will ask you some questions.

Then I want you to answer me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?

Tell me, if you know.

5 Who measured it? I am sure you know!

Who stretched a measuring line across it?

6 What was it built on?

Who laid its most important stone?

7 When it happened, the morning stars sang together.

All of the angels shouted with joy.

8 “Who created the ocean?

Who caused it to be born?

9 I put clouds over it as if they were its clothes.

I wrapped it in thick darkness.

10 I set limits for it.

I put its doors and metal bars in place.

11 I said, ‘You can come this far.

But you can’t come any farther.

Here is where your proud waves have to stop.’

2 “Who is this that darkens counsel

By words without knowledge?

3 “Now gird up your loins like a man,

And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell Me, if you have understanding,

5 Who set its measurements? Since you know.

Or who stretched the line on it?

6 “On what were its bases sunk?

Or who laid its cornerstone,

7 When the morning stars sang together

And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Or who enclosed the sea with doors

When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;

9 When I made a cloud its garment

And thick darkness its swaddling band,

10 And I placed boundaries on it

And set a bolt and doors,

11 And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther;

And here shall your proud waves stop’?