< Job 38 >

1 Then answered the Lord vnto Iob out of the whirle winde, and said,
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth the counsell by wordes without knowledge?
Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Girde vp nowe thy loynes like a man: I will demande of thee and declare thou vnto me.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I layd the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast vnderstanding,
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath layde the measures thereof, if thou knowest, or who hath stretched the line ouer it:
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof set: or who layed the corner stone thereof:
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the starres of the morning praysed me together, and all the children of God reioyced:
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who hath shut vp the Sea with doores, when it yssued and came foorth as out of the wombe:
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 cloudes as a couering thereof, and darkenesse as the swadeling bands thereof:
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10 When I stablished my commandement vpon it, and set barres and doores,
And brake up for it my decreed [place], and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther, and here shall it stay thy proude waues.
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 dayes? hast thou caused the morning to knowe his place,
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; [and] caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the corners of the earth, and that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to facion, and all stand vp as a garment.
It is turned as clay [to] the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 And from the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the hie arme shalbe broken.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
16 Hast thou entred into the bottomes of the sea? or hast thou walked to seeke out the depth?
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
17 Haue the gates of death bene opened vnto thee? or hast thou seene the gates of the shadowe of death?
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Hast thou perceiued the breadth of the earth? tell if thou knowest all this.
Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and where is the place of darkenesse,
Where [is] the way [where] light dwelleth? and [as for] darkness, where [is] the place thereof,
20 That thou shouldest receiue it in the boundes thereof, and that thou shouldest knowe the paths to the house thereof?
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths [to] the house thereof?
21 Knewest thou it, because thou wast then borne, and because the nomber of thy dayes is great?
Knowest thou [it], because thou wast then born? or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?
22 Hast thou entred into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seene the treasures of ye haile,
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I haue hid against the time of trouble, against the day of warre and battell?
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the East winde vpon the earth?
By what way is the light parted, [which] scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who hath deuided the spowtes for the raine? or the way for the lightning of ye thunders,
Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 To cause it to raine on the earth where no man is, and in the wildernes where there is no man?
To cause it to rain on the earth, [where] no man [is; on] the wilderness, wherein [there is] no man;
27 To fulfil the wilde and waste place, and to cause the bud of the herbe to spring forth?
To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground; ] and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Who is the father of the rayne? or who hath begotten the droppes of the dewe?
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose wombe came the yee? who hath ingendred the frost of the heauen?
Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone: and the face of the depth is frosen.
The waters are hid as [with] a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Canst thou restraine the sweete influences of the Pleiades? or loose the bandes of Orion?
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring foorth Mazzaroth in their time? canst thou also guide Arcturus with his sonnes?
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Knowest thou the course of heauen, or canst thou set the rule thereof in the earth?
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift vp thy voice to the cloudes that the aboundance of water may couer thee?
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Canst thou sende the lightenings that they may walke, and say vnto thee, Loe, heere we are?
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we [are]?
36 Who hath put wisedome in the reines? or who hath giuen the heart vnderstanding?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can nomber cloudes by wisedome? or who can cause to cease the bottels of heaue,
Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 When the earth groweth into hardnesse, and the clottes are fast together?
When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the pray for the lyon? or fill the appetite of the lyons whelpes,
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their places, and remaine in the couert to lye in waite?
When they couch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who prepareth for the rauen his meate, when his birdes crie vnto God, wandering for lacke of meate?
Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

< Job 38 >