Chapter 38

  And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: --  

--

  Who [is] this -- darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?  

--

  Gird, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.  

--

  Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.  

--

  Who placed its measures -- if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?  

--

  On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?  

--

  In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,  

--

  And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out.  

--

  In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,  

--

  And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,  

--

  And say, 'Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'  

--

  Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou the dawn to know its place?  

--

  To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,  

--

  It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.  

--

  And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.  

--

  Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?  

--

  Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?  

--

  Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare -- if thou hast known it all.  

--

  Where [is] this -- the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where [is] this -- its place?  

--

  That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.  

--

  Thou hast known -- for then thou art born And the number of thy days [are] many!  

--

  Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?  

--

  That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle.  

--

  Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.  

--

  Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?  

--

  To cause [it] to rain on a land -- no man, A wilderness -- no man in it.  

--

  To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?  

--

  Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?  

--

  From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?  

--

  As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.  

--

  Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?  

--

  Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?  

--

  Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?  

--

  Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?  

--

  Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, 'Behold us?'  

--

  Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?  

--

  Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,  

--

  In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?  

--

  Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?  

--

  When they bow down in dens -- Abide in a thicket for a covert?  

--

  Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.  

--