Job 38
1 Then did the Lord address Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
Respondens autem Dominus Job de turbine, dixit:
2 Who is this that casteth darkness [on my] counsel by words without knowledge?
[Quis est iste involvens sententias sermonibus imperitis?
3 Do but gird up like a mighty man thy loins: and I will ask thee, and do thou inform me.
Accinge sicut vir lumbos tuos: interrogabo te, et responde mihi.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell it, if thou hast any understanding [of it].
Ubi eras quando ponebam fundamenta terræ? indica mihi, si habes intelligentiam.
5 Who fixed her measurements, if thou knowest it? or who stretched the measuring-line over her?
Quis posuit mensuras ejus, si nosti? vel quis tetendit super eam lineam?
6 Upon what are her foundation-pillars placed at rest? or who laid her corner-stone:
Super quo bases illius solidatæ sunt? aut quis demisit lapidem angularem ejus,
7 When altogether sang the morning stars in gladness, and shouted for joy all the sons of God?
cum me laudarent simul astra matutina, et jubilarent omnes filii Dei?
8 And who closed up with doors the sea, when, issuing forth, it came out of the deep bosom of the earth?
Quis conclusit ostiis mare, quando erumpebat quasi de vulva procedens;
9 When I made the clouds its garment, and thick fog its swaddling-cloth,
cum ponerem nubem vestimentum ejus, et caligine illud quasi pannis infantiæ obvolverem?
10 And when I decreed for it my law, and set [for it] bars and doors,
Circumdedi illud terminis meis, et posui vectem et ostia,
11 And said, Thus far mayest thou come, but no farther; and here shall be stayed [thy strength] in the pride of thy waves?
et dixi: Usque huc venies, et non procedes amplius, et hic confringes tumentes fluctus tuos.
12 Didst thou ever, in all thy days, command the morning; didst thou ever assign the morning-dawn its place:
Numquid post ortum tuum præcepisti diluculo, et ostendisti auroræ locum suum?
13 That it might lay hold of the ends of the earth, so that the wicked might be shaken out therefrom?
Et tenuisti concutiens extrema terræ, et excussisti impios ex ea?
14 She is changed as the sealing-clay: and [all things] stand as though newly clad.
Restituetur ut lutum signaculum, et stabit sicut vestimentum:
15 And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.
auferetur ab impiis lux sua, et brachium excelsum confringetur.
16 Didst thou ever penetrate as far as the springs of the sea? or wander through the bottom of the deep?
Numquid ingressus es profunda maris, et in novissimis abyssi deambulasti?
17 Were the gates of death ever laid open unto thee? or canst thou see the doors of the shadow of death?
Numquid apertæ sunt tibi portæ mortis, et ostia tenebrosa vidisti?
18 Hast thou a clear understanding of the breadth of the earth? Tell it, if thou knowest it all.
Numquid considerasti latitudinem terræ? indica mihi, si nosti, omnia:
19 Where is the way [to the spot where] the light dwelleth? and the darkness—where is its place,
in qua via lux habitet, et tenebrarum quis locus sit:
20 That thou mightest take each to its boundary, and that thou mightest mark the pathways to its house?
ut ducas unumquodque ad terminos suos, et intelligas semitas domus ejus.
21 Thou [surely] knowest it; because thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
Sciebas tunc quod nasciturus esses, et numerum dierum tuorum noveras?
22 Didst thou ever enter into the treasuries of the snow? or canst thou see the treasuries of the hail,
Numquid ingressus es thesauros nivis, aut thesauros grandinis aspexisti,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of fight and battle?
quæ præparavi in tempus hostis, in diem pugnæ et belli?
24 Where is the way [to the spot where] the light divideth itself, [where] the east wind is scattered over the earth?
Per quam viam spargitur lux, dividitur æstus super terram?
25 Who hath divided off watercourses for the overflowing rain, and a way for the lightning [that is followed by] thunders,
Quis dedit vehementissimo imbri cursum, et viam sonantis tonitrui,
26 To bring rain on a land, void of men; on a wilderness wherein no son of earth [is found];
ut plueret super terram absque homine in deserto, ubi nullus mortalium commoratur;
27 To satisfy waste and desolate lands; and to promote the growth of the tender grass?
ut impleret inviam et desolatam, et produceret herbas virentes?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew?
Quis est pluviæ pater? vel quis genuit stillas roris?
29 Out of whose womb cometh forth the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven—who giveth birth to it?
De cujus utero egressa est glacies? et gelu de cælo quis genuit?
30 [When] like a stone the waters are congealed, and the face of the deep is bound in fetters?
In similitudinem lapidis aquæ durantur, et superficies abyssi constringitur.
31 Canst thou bind together the chains of the Pleiades, or loosen the bands of Orion?
Numquid conjungere valebis micantes stellas Pleiadas, aut gyrum Arcturi poteris dissipare?
32 Canst thou bring forth the constellations of the zodiac, each in its season? or canst thou guide the Bear with its young?
Numquid producis luciferum in tempore suo, et vesperum super filios terræ consurgere facis?
33 Knowest thou the laws of heaven? or dost thou appoint its rule on the earth?
Numquid nosti ordinem cæli, et pones rationem ejus in terra?
34 Canst thou lift up to the clouds thy voice, that the abundance of waters may cover thee?
Numquid elevabis in nebula vocem tuam, et impetus aquarum operiet te?
35 Canst thou send out lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here are we?
Numquid mittes fulgura, et ibunt, et revertentia dicent tibi: Adsumus?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the dark clouds? or who hath given understanding to the bright meteors?
Quis posuit in visceribus hominis sapientiam? vel quis dedit gallo intelligentiam?
37 Who ordaineth the skies with wisdom? or who emptieth out the bottles of heaven.
Quis enarrabit cælorum rationem? et concentum cæli quis dormire faciet?
38 When the dust is poured out as molten metal, and the clods are made to cleave fast together?
Quando fundebatur pulvis in terra, et glebæ compingebantur?
39 Dost thou hunt for the lioness her prey? and suppliest thou the food for the young lions,
Numquid capies leænæ prædam, et animam catulorum ejus implebis,
40 When they are couched in their lairs, rest in the thicket, lying in wait?
quando cubant in antris, et in specubus insidiantur?
41 Who provideth for the raven his provision? when his young ones cry unto God, and wander about for lack of food?
Quis præparat corvo escam suam, quando pulli ejus clamant ad Deum, vagantes, eo quod non habeant cibos?]
