1 Then answered the Lord vnto Iob out of the whirle winde, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth the counsell by wordes without knowledge? 3 Girde vp nowe thy loynes like a man: I will demande of thee and declare thou vnto me. 4 Where wast thou when I layd the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast vnderstanding, 5 Who hath layde the measures thereof, if thou knowest, or who hath stretched the line ouer it: 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof set: or who layed the corner stone thereof: 7 When the starres of the morning praysed me together, and all the children of God reioyced: 8 Or who hath shut vp the Sea with doores, when it yssued and came foorth as out of the wombe: 9 When I made the cloudes as a couering thereof, and darkenesse as the swadeling bands thereof: 10 When I stablished my commandement vpon it, and set barres and doores, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther, and here shall it stay thy proude waues. 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy dayes? hast thou caused the morning to knowe his place, 13 That it might take hold of the corners of the earth, and that the wicked might be shaken out of it? 14 It is turned as clay to facion, and all stand vp as a garment. 15 And from the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the hie arme shalbe broken. 16 Hast thou entred into the bottomes of the sea? or hast thou walked to seeke out the depth? 17 Haue the gates of death bene opened vnto thee? or hast thou seene the gates of the shadowe of death? 18 Hast thou perceiued the breadth of the earth? tell if thou knowest all this. 19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and where is the place of darkenesse, 20 That thou shouldest receiue it in the boundes thereof, and that thou shouldest knowe the paths to the house thereof? 21 Knewest thou it, because thou wast then borne, and because the nomber of thy dayes is great? 22 Hast thou entred into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seene the treasures of ye haile, 23 Which I haue hid against the time of trouble, against the day of warre and battell? 24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the East winde vpon the earth? 25 Who hath deuided the spowtes for the raine? or the way for the lightning of ye thunders, 26 To cause it to raine on the earth where no man is, and in the wildernes where there is no man? 27 To fulfil the wilde and waste place, and to cause the bud of the herbe to spring forth? 28 Who is the father of the rayne? or who hath begotten the droppes of the dewe? 29 Out of whose wombe came the yee? who hath ingendred the frost of the heauen? 30 The waters are hid as with a stone: and the face of the depth is frosen. 31 Canst thou restraine the sweete influences of the Pleiades? or loose the bandes of Orion? 32 Canst thou bring foorth Mazzaroth in their time? canst thou also guide Arcturus with his sonnes? 33 Knowest thou the course of heauen, or canst thou set the rule thereof in the earth? 34 Canst thou lift vp thy voice to the cloudes that the aboundance of water may couer thee? 35 Canst thou sende the lightenings that they may walke, and say vnto thee, Loe, heere we are? 36 Who hath put wisedome in the reines? or who hath giuen the heart vnderstanding? 37 Who can nomber cloudes by wisedome? or who can cause to cease the bottels of heaue, 38 When the earth groweth into hardnesse, and the clottes are fast together?
The Lord Speaks
From Out of a Storm
1 From out of a storm,
the Lord said to Job:
2 Why do you talk so much
when you know so little?
3 Now get ready to face me!
Can you answer
the questions I ask?
4 How did I lay the foundation
for the earth?
Were you there?
5 Doubtless you know who decided
its length and width.
6 What supports the foundation?
Who placed the cornerstone,
7 while morning stars sang,
and angels rejoiced?
8 When the ocean was born,
I set its boundaries
9 and wrapped it in blankets
of thickest fog.
10 Then I built a wall around it,
locked the gates, 11 and said,
“Your powerful waves stop here!
They can go no farther.”
Did You Ever Tell the Sun To Rise?
12 Did you ever tell the sun to rise?
And did it obey?
13 Did it take hold of the earth
and shake out the wicked
like dust from a rug?
14 Early dawn outlines the hills
like stitches on clothing
or sketches on clay.
15 But its light is too much
for those who are evil,
and their power is broken.
16 Job, have you ever walked
on the ocean floor?
17 Have you seen the gate
to the world of the dead?
18 And how large is the earth?
Tell me, if you know!
19 Where is the home of light,
and where does darkness live?
20 Can you lead them home?
21 I'm certain you must be able to,
since you were already born
when I created everything.
22 Have you been to the places
where I keep snow and hail,
23 until I use them to punish
and conquer nations?
24 From where does lightning leap,
or the east wind blow?
25 Who carves out a path
for thunderstorms?
Who sends torrents of rain
26 on empty deserts
where no one lives?
27 Rain that changes barren land
to meadows green with grass.
28 Who is the father of the dew
and of the rain?
29 Who gives birth to the sleet
and the frost
30 that fall in winter,
when streams and lakes
freeze solid as a rock?
Can You Arrange Stars?
31 Can you arrange stars in groups
such as Orion
and the Pleiades?
32 Do you control the stars
or set in place the Big Dipper
and the Little Dipper?
33 Do you know the laws
that govern the heavens,
and can you make them rule
the earth?
34 Can you order the clouds
to send a downpour,
35 or will lightning flash
at your command?
36 Did you teach birds to know
that rain or floods
are on their way?
37 Can you count the clouds
or pour out their water
38 on the dry, lumpy soil?
39 When lions are hungry,
do you help them hunt?
40 Do you send an animal
into their den?
41 And when starving young ravens
cry out to me for food,
do you satisfy their hunger?