Job, 38
God interposes and shews from the things he hath made, that man cannot comprehend his power and wisdom.
[1] Then the Lord 1 answered Job out of a whirlwind, and said: •
The Lord: That is, an angel speaking in the name of the Lord.
[2] Who is this that wrappeth up sentences in unskilful words? •
[3] Gird up thy loins like a man: I will ask thee, and answer thou me. •
[4] Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell me if thou hast understanding. •
[5] Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest or who hath stretched the line upon it? •
[6] Upon what are its bases grounded? or who laid the corner stone thereof,
[7] When the morning stars praised me together, and all the sons of God made a joyful melody? •
[8] Who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth as issuing out of the womb: •
[9] When I made a cloud the garment thereof, and wrapped it in a mist as in swaddling bands? •
[10] I set my bounds around it, and made it bars and doors: •
[11] And I said: Hitherto thou shalt come, and shalt go no further, and here thou shalt break thy swelling waves. •
[12] Didst thou since thy birth command the morning, and shew the dawning of the day its place? •
[13] And didst thou hold the extremities of the earth shaking them, and hast thou shaken the ungodly out of it? •
[14] The seal shall be restored as clay, and shall stand as a garment. •
[15] From the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the high arm shall be broken.
[16] Hast thou entered into the depths of the sea, and walked in the lowest parts of the deep?
[17] Have the gates of death been opened to thee, and hast thou seen the darksome doors? •
[18] Hast thou considered the breadth of the earth? tell me, if thou knowest all things?
[19] Where is the way where light dwelleth, and where is the place of darkness? •
[20] That thou mayst bring every thing to its own bounds, and understand the paths of the house thereof.
[21] Didst thou know then that thou shouldst be born? and didst thou know the number of thy days? •
[22] Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, or hast thou beheld the treasures of the hail: •
[23] Which I have prepared for the time of the enemy, against the day of battle and war? •
[24] By what way is the light spread, and heat divided upon the earth? •
[25] Who gave a course to violent showers, or a way for noisy thunder: •
[26] That it should rain on the earth without man in the wilderness, where no mortal dwelleth: •
[27] That it should fill the desert and desolate land, and should bring forth green grass?
[28] Who is the father of rain? or who begot the drops of dew?
[29] Out of whose womb came the ice? and the frost from heaven who hath gendered it?
[30] The waters are hardened like a stone, and the surface of the deep is congealed.
[31] Shalt thou be able to join together the shining stars the Pleiades 1, or canst thou stop the turning about of Arcturus? •
Pleiades: Hebrew, Cimah. A cluster of seven stars in the constellation Taurus or the Bull. Arcturus, a bright star in the constellation Bootes. The Hebrew name Cesil, is variously interpreted; by some, Orion; by others, the Great Bear is understood.
[32] Canst thou bring forth the day star in its time, and make the evening star to rise upon the children of the earth? •
[33] Dost thou know the order of heaven, and canst thou set down the reason thereof on the earth? •
[34] Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that an abundance of waters may cover thee? •
[35] Canst thou send lightnings, and will they go, and will they return and say to thee: Here we are?
[36] Who hath put wisdom in the heart of man? or who gave the cock understanding 1? •
Understanding: That instinct by which he distinguishes the times of crowing in the night.
[37] Who can declare the order of the heavens, or who can make the harmony of heaven to sleep? •
[38] When was the dust poured on the earth, and the clods fastened together? •
[39] Wilt thou take the prey for the lioness, and satisfy the appetite of her whelps, •
[40] When they couch in the dens and lie in wait in holes?
[41] Who provideth food for the raven, when her young ones cry to God, wandering about, because they have no meat? •