The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job
1 Then theLordanswered Jobout of the whirlwind, and said:
2 “Whoisthis who darkens counsel
# Bywords without knowledge?
3 Now prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4 “Wherewere you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
TellMe,if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
# And allthe sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Orwhoshut in the sea with doors,
When it burst forthandissued from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 WhenI fixed My limit for it,
And set bars and doors;
11 When I said,
‘This far you may come, but no farther,
# And here your proud wavesmust stop!’
12 “Have youcommanded the morning since your daysbegan,
Andcaused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
# Andthe wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It takes on form like clayundera seal,
And stands out like a garment.
15 From the wicked theirlight is withheld,
# Andthe upraised arm is broken.
16 “Have youentered the springs of the sea?
Or have you walked in search of the depths?
17 Havethe gates of death been revealed to you?
Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
TellMe,if you know all this.
19 “Whereisthe waytothe dwelling of light?
And darkness, whereisits place,
20 That you may take it to its territory,
That you may know the pathstoits home?
21 Do you knowit,because you were born then,
Orbecausethe number of your daysisgreat?
22 “Have you enteredthe treasury of snow,
Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
For the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is light diffused,
Orthe east wind scattered over the earth?
25 “Whohas divided a channel for the overflowingwater,
Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26 To cause it to rain on a landwherethereisno one,
A wilderness in whichthereisno man;
27 To satisfy the desolate waste,
And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
28 Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
# And thefrost of heaven, who gives it birth?
30 The waters harden like stone,
# And the surface of the deep isfrozen.
31 “Can you bind the cluster of thePleiades,
Or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season?
Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you knowthe ordinances of the heavens?
Can you set their dominion over the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
That an abundance of water may cover you?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go,
And say to you, ‘Here weare!’?
36 Who has put wisdom in the mind?
Or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust hardens in clumps,
And the clods cling together?
39 “Canyou hunt the prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch intheirdens,
Orlurk in their lairs to lie in wait?
41 Who provides food for the raven,
When its young ones cry to God,
And wander about for lack of food?