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And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.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