Chapter 38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Or who laid the cornerstone thereof?
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy,
Or who shut up the sea with doors when it break forth, as if it had issued out of
the womb?
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling band for
it, And break up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said,
Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further, And here shall thy proud waves be stayed.
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days, And caused the dayspring to know his
place, That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, That the wicked might be
shaken out of it?
It is turned as clay to the seal, and they stand as a garment, And from the
wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm shall be broken.
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea, Or hast thou walked in the search of
the depth?
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee, Or hast thou seen the doors of the
shadow of death?
Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth?
Declare, if thou knowest it all.
Where is the way where light dwelleth?
And as for darkness, where is the place thereof, That thou shouldest take it to
the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest know the path to the house thereof?
Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born, Or because the number of thy days is
great?
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasures
of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of
battle and war?
By what way is the light parted, Which scattereth the east wind upon the
earth?
Who hath divided a water course for the overflowing of waters, Or a way for the
lightning of thunder?
To cause it to rain on the earth where no man is, On the wilderness wherein there is
no man?
To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, And to cause the bud of the tender herb to
spring forth?
Hath the rain a father?
Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
Out of whose womb came the ice?
And the hoary frost of heaven, Who hath gendered it?
The waters are hid as with a stone, And the face of the deep is frozen.
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou bring forth Maseroth in his season?
Or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven?
Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover
thee?
Canst thou send lightnings, That they may go and say unto thee, Here we are.
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts?
Or who hath given understanding to the heart?
Who can number the clouds in wisdom?
Or who can stay the bottles of heaven?
When the dust groweth into hardness, And the clods cleave fast together,
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion, Or fill the appetite of the young lions
When they couch in their dens, And abide in the coffer to lie in wait?
Who provideth for the raven his food, When his young ones cry unto God?
Or do they wander for lack of meat?