The Lord Answers Job
Then the Lord aanswered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 “Who is this that adarkens counsel by words bwithout knowledge?
3 aDress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4 “Where were you when I alaid 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 asang together
and all bthe sons of God cshouted for joy?
8 “Or who ashut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment
and athick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed alimits for it
and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your aproud waves be stayed’?
12 “Have you acommanded the morning since your days began,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold of athe skirts of the earth,
and the wicked be bshaken out of it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal,
and its features stand out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their alight is withheld,
and btheir uplifted arm is broken.
16 “Have you aentered into the springs of the sea,
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have athe gates of death been revealed to you,
or have you seen the gates of bdeep darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
Declare, if you know all this.
19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light,
and where is the place of darkness,
20 that you may take it to its territory
and that you may discern athe paths to its home?
21 You know, for ayou were born then,
and the number of your days is great!
22 “Have you entered athe storehouses of the snow,
or have you seen athe storehouses of the hail,
23 which I have reserved afor the time of trouble,
afor the day of battle and war?
24 What is the way to the place where the light is distributed,
or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
25 “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain
and aa way for the thunderbolt,
26 to bring rain on aa land where no man is,
on bthe desert in which there is no man,
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate land,
and to make the ground sprout with agrass?
28 “Has athe rain a father,
or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb did athe ice come forth,
and who has given birth to athe frost of heaven?
30 The waters become hard like stone,
and the face of the deep is afrozen.
31 “Can you bind the chains of athe Pleiades
or loose the cords of aOrion?
32 Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season,
or can you guide athe Bear with its children?
33 Do you know athe ordinances of the heavens?
Can you establish their rule on the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
that aa flood of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go
and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has aput wisdom in bthe inward parts
or given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
38 when the dust runs into a mass
and athe clods stick fast together?
39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
or asatisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they crouch in their adens
or lie in wait bin their thicket?
41 Who provides for athe raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God for help,
and wander about for lack of food?