Job 38

1

Then the LORD answered Iob out of the whirlewind, and sayd,

2

Who is this that darkneth counsell by words without knowledge?

3

Gird vp nowe thy loines like a man; for I will demaund of thee, and answere thou me.

4

Where wast thou when I layd the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast vnderstanding.

5

Who hath layd the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line vpon it?

6

Wherepuon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who layd the corner stone thereof?

7

When the morning starres sang together, and all the sonnes of God shouted for ioy.

8

Or who shut vp the sea with doores, when it brake foorth as if it had issued out of the wombe?

9

When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thicke darknesse a swadling band for it,

10

And brake vp for it my decreed place, and set barres and doores,

11

And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and heere shall thy proud waues be stayed.

12

Hast thou commaunded the morning since thy daies? and caused the day-spring to know his place,

13

That it might take hold of the endes of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14

It is turned as clay to the seale, and they stand as a garment.

15

And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arme shalbe broken.

16

Hast thou entred into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17

Haue the gates of death bene opened vnto thee? or hast thou seene the doores of the shadow of death?

18

Hast thou perceiued the breadth of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.

19

Where is the way where light dwelleth? And as for darknesse, where is the place thereof?

20

That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the pathes to the house thereof.

21

Knowest thou it, because thou wast then borne? or because the number of thy daies is great?

22

Hast thou entred into the treasures of the snowe? or hast thou seene the treasures of the haile,

23

Which I haue reserued against the time of trouble, against the day of battaile and warre?

24

By what way is the light parted? which scattereth the East wind vpon the earth.

25

Who hath diuided a water-course for the ouerflowing of waters? or a way for the lightning of thunder,

26

To cause it to raine on the earth, where no man is: on the wildernesse wherein there is no man?

27

To satisfie the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herbe to spring forth.

28

Hath the raine a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29

Out of whose wombe came the yce? and the hoary frost of heauen, who hath gendred it?

30

The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deepe is frozen.

31

Canst thou bind the sweete influences of Pleiades? or loose the bands of Orion?

32

Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season, or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sonnes?

33

Knowest thou the ordinances of heauen? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34

Canst thou lift vp thy voice to the cloudes, that abundance of waters may couer thee?

35

Canst thou send lightnings, that they may goe, and say vnto thee, Here we are?

36

Who hath put wisedome in the inward parts? or who hath giuen vnderstanding to the heart?

37

Who can number the cloudes in wisedome? or who can stay the bottles of heauen,

38

When the dust groweeh into hardnesse, and the clods cleaue fast together?

39

Wilt thou hunt the pray for the lyon? or fill the appetite of the young lyons,

40

When they couch in their dennes, and abide in the couert to lie in waite?

41

Who prouideth for the rauen his foode? when his young ones cry vnto God, they wander for lacke of meate.