Chapter 38

Then the LORD answered⁴ Job out of the whirlwind, and said,⁴

Who [is] this that darkeneth⁵⁶ counsel by words without knowledge?

Gird up³ now thy loins like a man; for I will demand⁴ of thee, and answer⁵⁴ thou me.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations² of the earth? declare,⁵⁴ if thou hast¹ understanding.

Who hath laid¹ the measures thereof, if thou knowest?⁴ or who hath stretched¹ the line upon it?

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened?⁹⁰ or who laid¹ the corner stone thereof;

When the morning stars sang² together, and all the sons of God shouted⁵⁵ for joy?

Or [who] shut up⁵⁵ the sea with doors, when it brake forth,² [as if] it had issued out⁴ of the womb?

When I made² the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

And brake up⁴ for it my decreed [place], and set⁴ bars and doors,

And said,⁴ Hitherto ⁶³¹¹ shalt thou come,⁴ but no further:⁵⁵ and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?⁴

Hast thou commanded¹⁴ the morning since thy days; [and] caused the dayspring to know¹⁴ his place;

That it might take hold² of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken¹¹ out of it?

It is turned¹⁰¹ as clay [to] the seal; and they stand¹⁰¹ as a garment.

And from the wicked their light is withholden,¹¹ and the high⁶ arm shall be broken.¹¹

Hast thou entered¹ into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked⁹⁸ in the search of the depth?

Have the gates of death been opened⁸ unto thee? or hast thou seen⁴ the doors of the shadow of death?

Hast thou perceived¹¹⁰ the breadth of the earth? declare⁵⁴ if thou knowest¹ it all.

Where [is] the way [where] light dwelleth?⁴ and [as for] darkness, where [is] the place thereof,

That thou shouldest take⁴ it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know⁴ the paths [to] the house thereof?

Knowest¹ thou [it], because thou wast then born?¹¹ or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?

Hast thou entered¹ into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen⁴ the treasures of the hail,

Which I have reserved¹ against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

By what way is the light parted,¹¹ [which] scattereth⁵⁵ the east wind upon the earth?

Who hath divided¹⁴ a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

To cause it to rain⁵³ on the earth, [where] no man [is; on] the wilderness, wherein [there is] no man;

To satisfy⁵³ the desolate and waste [ground]; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?⁵³

Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten⁵² the drops of dew?

Out of whose womb came¹ the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered¹ it?

The waters are hid¹⁰¹ as [with] a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.¹⁰¹

Canst thou bind¹⁷ the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose¹⁷ the bands of Orion?

Canst thou bring forth⁵⁵ Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide⁵⁵ Arcturus with his sons?

Knowest¹ thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set⁴ the dominion thereof in the earth?

Canst thou lift up⁵⁵ thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover¹⁷ thee?

Canst thou send¹⁷ lightnings, that they may go,⁴ and say⁴ unto thee, Here we [are]?

Who hath put¹ wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given¹ understanding to the heart?

Who can number¹⁷ the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay⁵⁵ the bottles of heaven,

When the dust groweth² into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?²⁹

Wilt thou hunt⁴ the prey for the lion? or fill¹⁷ the appetite of the young lions,

When they couch⁴ in [their] dens, [and] abide⁴ in the covert to lie in wait?

Who provideth⁵⁵ for the raven his food? when his young ones cry¹⁷ unto God, they wander⁴ for lack of meat.