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 inperitis
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 intellegentiam
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 dimisit 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And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.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 abyssis deambulasti
Didst thou ever penetrate as far as the springs of the sea? or wander through the bottom of the deep?
17 numquid apertae tibi sunt 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 latitudines 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 habitet lux 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 intellegas 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 Pliadis 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 intellegentiam
Who hath put wisdom in the dark clouds? or who hath given understanding to the bright meteors?
37 quis enarravit 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 terram et glebae conpingebantur
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 ad Deum clamant vagantes 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?
