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Job 38:1–6

The Lord Speaks

38 Then the Lord spoke to Jobw out of the storm.x He said:

“Who is this that obscures my plansy

with words without knowledge?z

Brace yourself like a man;

I will question you,

and you shall answer me.a

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

Tell me, if you understand.c

Who marked off its dimensions?d Surely you know!

Who stretched a measuring linee across it?

On what were its footings set,f

or who laid its cornerstoneg

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Job 38:1–6 — English Standard Version (ESV)

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

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

Dress for action like a man;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.

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

Tell me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

Job 38:1–6 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

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

Who is this that darkeneth counsel

By words without knowledge?

Gird up now thy loins like a man;

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

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

Declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest?

Or who hath stretched the line upon it?

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened?

Or who laid the corner stone thereof;

Job 38:1–6 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

“Who is this that questions my wisdom

with such ignorant words?

Brace yourself like a man,

because I have some questions for you,

and you must answer them.

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

Tell me, if you know so much.

Who determined its dimensions

and stretched out the surveying line?

What supports its foundations,

and who laid its cornerstone

Job 38:1–6 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

“Who is this who darkens counsel

By words without knowledge?

Now prepare yourself like a man;

I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

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

Tell Me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements?

Surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

To what were its foundations fastened?

Or who laid its cornerstone,

Job 38:1–6 — New Century Version (NCV)

Then the Lord answered Job from the storm. He said:

“Who is this that makes my purpose unclear

by saying things that are not true?

Be strong like a man!

I will ask you questions,

and you must answer me.

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

Tell me, if you understand.

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

Who stretched a ruler across it?

What were the earth’s foundations set on,

or who put its cornerstone in place

Job 38:1–6 — American Standard Version (ASV)

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

Who is this that darkeneth counsel

By words without knowledge?

Gird up now thy loins like a man;

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

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

Declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest?

Or who stretched the line upon it?

Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened?

Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,

Job 38:1–6 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.

Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. Who set the measures thereof—if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it? Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,

Job 38:1–6 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. 

“Who is this that belittles my advice 

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

Brace yourself like a man! 

I will ask you, and you will teach me. 

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

Tell me if you have ⸤such⸥ insight. 

Who determined its dimensions? 

Certainly, you know! 

Who stretched a measuring line over it? 

On what were its footings sunk? 

Who laid its cornerstone 

Job 38:1–6 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind. He said:

Who is this who obscures My counsel

with ignorant words?

Get ready to answer Me like a man;

when I question you, you will inform Me.

Where were you when I established the earth?

Tell Me, if you have understanding.

Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know!

Who stretched a measuring line across it?

What supports its foundations?

Or who laid its cornerstone

Job 38:1–6 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:

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

Gird up your loins like a man,

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

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

Tell me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone

Job 38:1–6 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Then Yahweh answered Job from the storm, and he said,

“Who is this darkening counsel

by words without knowledge?

Prepare yourself for a difficult task like a man,

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

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

Tell me, if you possess understanding.

Who determined its measurement? Yes, you do know.

Or who stretched the measuring line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk?

Or who laid its cornerstone,

Job 38:1–6 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

The Lord spoke to Job out of a storm. He said,

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

You do not know what you are talking about.

Get ready to stand up for yourself.

I will ask you some questions.

Then I want you to answer me.

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

Tell me, if you know.

Who measured it? I am sure you know!

Who stretched a measuring line across it?

What was it built on?

Who laid its most important stone?

Job 38:1–6 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

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

Who is this that darkens counsel

By words without knowledge?

Now gird up your loins like a man,

And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

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

Tell Me, if you have understanding,

Who set its measurements? Since you know.

Or who stretched the line on it?

“On what were its bases sunk?

Or who laid its cornerstone,


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