Job 38

ERV^{(i) 1} Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 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 the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, ¹⁰ And prescribed for it my decree, and set bars and doors, ¹¹ And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? ¹² Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days [began, and] caused the dayspring to know its place; ¹³ That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? ¹⁴ It is changed as clay under the seal; and [all things] stand forth as a garment: ¹⁵ And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm is broken. ¹⁶ Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep? ¹⁷ Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death? ¹⁸ Hast thou comprehended the breadth of the earth? declare, if thou knowest it all. ¹⁹ Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and as for darkness, where is the place thereof; ²⁰ That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof? ²¹ [Doubtless], thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great! ²² Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail, ²³ Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? ²⁴ By what way is the light parted, or the east wind scattered upon the earth? ²⁵ Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, or a way for the lightning of the thunder; ²⁶ To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; ²⁷ To satisfy the waste and desolate [ground]; and to cause the tender grass to spring forth? ²⁸ Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? ²⁹ Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? ³⁰ The waters are hidden as [with] stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. ³¹ Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? ³² Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? or canst thou guide the Bear with her train? ³³ Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth? ³⁴ Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? ³⁵ Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are? ³⁶ Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind? ³⁷ Who can number the clouds by wisdom? or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, ³⁸ When the dust runneth into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together? ³⁹ Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness? or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, ⁴⁰ When they couch in their dens, [and] abide in the covert to lie in wait? ⁴¹ Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, [and] wander for lack of meat?