“ Were you the first person ever born? Were you born before the hills were made?

“你岂是头一个被生的人吗？你受造在诸山之先吗？

“你是头一个生下来的人吗？你受造在诸山之先吗？

“你是头一个生下来的人吗？你受造在诸山之先吗？

你岂是第一个出生的人？你岂在群山之前被造？

你是头一个生下来的人吗？你在诸山未有之前诞生的吗？

你豈是頭一個被生的人嗎？你受造在諸山之先嗎？

「你是頭一個生下來的人嗎？你受造在諸山之先嗎？

「你是頭一個生下來的人嗎？你受造在諸山之先嗎？

你豈是第一個出生的人？你豈在群山之前被造？

你是頭一個生下來的人嗎？你在諸山未有之前誕生的嗎？

『你哪是頭一個生下來的人呢？你被產出、是在岡陵之先麼？

爾為首生之人乎、爾之受造、先於山乎、

生人之始豈爾乎、有山以前豈爾乎。

爾生於世、豈首人乎、爾受造豈在有山以前乎、

“ Are you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?

“ Are you the first man who was ever born? Were you created before the hills?

“ Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought forth before the hills?

Were you the first human ever born, or were you brought forth before the hills?

“ Were you the first person to be born, Or were you brought forth before the hills?

“ Are you the first man who was born? Or were you made before the hills?

Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?

Were you the first person ever born, or were you brought forth before the hills?

[ Art] thou the first man[ that] was born? or wast thou made before the hills?

“ Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?

“ Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought out before the hills?

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.

“ The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—

“ 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 cornerstoneas the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?“ Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb,and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.I said,‘ This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’“ Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors.The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.“ Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths?Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!“ Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!“ Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail?( I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war.)Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind?“ Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning?Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives?Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up?“ Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew?Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.“ Can you direct the movement of the stars— binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion?Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?“ Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind?Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heavenwhen the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?“ Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions’ appetitesas they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket?Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?

Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said,“ With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!”

On our side are aged, gray haired men much older than your father!

Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.