66 Books

¹ Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: ² By words without knowledge? ³ I will question you, and you shall answer Me. ⁴ Tell Me, if you have understanding. ⁵ Or who stretched the line upon it? ⁶ Or who laid its cornerstone, ⁷ And all the sons of God shouted for joy? ⁸ When it burst forth and issued from the womb; ⁹ And thick darkness its swaddling band; ¹⁰ And set bars and doors; ¹¹ And here your proud waves must stop!’ ¹² And caused the dawn to know its place, ¹³ And the wicked be shaken out of it? ¹⁴ And stands out like a garment. ¹⁵ And the upraised arm is broken. ¹⁶ Or have you walked in search of the depths? ¹⁷ Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death? ¹⁸ Tell Me, if you know all this. ¹⁹ And darkness, where is its place, ²⁰ That you may know the paths to its home? ²¹ Or because the number of your days is great? ²² Or have you seen the treasury of hail, ²³ For the day of battle and war? ²⁴ Or the east wind scattered over the earth? ²⁵ Or a path for the thunderbolt, ²⁶ A wilderness in which there is no man; ²⁷ And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass? ²⁸ Or who has begotten the drops of dew? ²⁹ And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth? ³⁰ And the surface of the deep is frozen. ³¹ Or loose the belt of Orion? ³² Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs? ³³ Can you set their dominion over the earth? ³⁴ That an abundance of water may cover you? ³⁵ And say to you, ‘Here we are!’? ³⁶ Or who has given understanding to the heart? ³⁷ Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, ³⁸ And the clods cling together? ³⁹ Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, ⁴⁰ Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait? ⁴¹ And wander about for lack of food?