Job 38 — American Standard Version

Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,● Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?● Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.● Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.● Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?● Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone 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 brake forth, `as if' it had issued out of the womb;● When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,● And marked out for it my bound, 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 `began', `And' caused the dayspring to know its place;● That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?● It is changed as clay under the seal; And `all things' stand forth as a garment:● And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken.● Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?● Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?● Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.● Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,● That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?● `Doubtless', thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!● Hast thou entered the treasuries 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, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?● Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;● To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;● To satisfy the waste and desolate `ground', And to cause the tender grass 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 hide themselves `and become' like stone, And the face of the deep is frozen.● Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?● Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?● Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish 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 forth 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 mind?● Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,● When the dust runneth into a mass, And the clods cleave fast together?● Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,● When they couch in their dens, `And' abide in the covert to lie in wait?● Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, `And' wander for lack of food?●