1 Then the Lordqch. 40:6; [ch. 13:22] answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 “Who is this thatrch. 42:3 darkens counsel by wordssSee ch. 35:16 without knowledge?
3 t1 Kgs. 18:46 Dress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4 Where were you when IuPs. 104:5; [Prov. 30:4; Isa. 40:12-14]; See Prov. 8:24-29 laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning starsv[Ps. 19:1-4] sang together
and allwSee ch. 1:6 the sons of Godx[Luke 2:13, 14] shouted for joy?
8 Or whoyGen. 1:9; Ps. 33:7; 104:8, 9; Jer. 5:22 shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment
andzch. 22:13 thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribeda[ver. 33 (Heb.)] limits for it
and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall yourb[Ps. 65:7; 89:9; 93:4] proud waves be stayed ’?
12 Have youcPs. 65:8; 74:16 commanded the morning since your days began,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold ofdch. 37:3 the skirts of the earth,
and the wicked bee[Neh. 5:13] shaken out of it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal,
and its features stand out like a garment.
15 From the wicked theirfch. 18:5; [Matt. 6:23]; See ch. 24:13-17 light is withheld,
andgPs. 10:15; 37:17; Ezek. 30:21, 22 their uplifted arm is broken.
16 Have youhPs. 77:19 entered into the springs of the sea,
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 HaveiPs. 9:13; 107:18; [Isa. 38:10; Matt. 16:18] the gates of death been revealed to you,
or have you seen the gates ofjSee ch. 3:5 deep darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
Declare, if you know all this.
19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light,
and where is the place of darkness,
20 that you may take it to its territory
and that you may discernkch. 24:13 the paths to its home?
21 You know, forl[ch. 15:7] you were born then,
and the number of your days is great!
22 Have you enteredm[Ps. 135:7] the storehouses of the snow,
or have you seenm[Ps. 135:7] the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I have reservednJosh. 10:11; Isa. 28:17; 30:30; Ezek. 13:11, 13; 38:22; Rev. 16:21; [ch. 37:13] for the time of trouble,
nJosh. 10:11; Isa. 28:17; 30:30; Ezek. 13:11, 13; 38:22; Rev. 16:21; [ch. 37:13] for the day of battle and war?
24 What is the way to the place where the light is distributed,
or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
25 Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain
andoch. 28:26 a way for the thunderbolt,
26 to bring rain onp[ch. 37:13] a land where no man is,
onqPs. 107:35 the desert in which there is no man,
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate land,
and to make the ground sprout withrGen. 1:11; 2 Sam. 23:4 grass?
28 HassPs. 147:8; Jer. 14:22 the rain a father,
or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb didtPs. 147:16, 17 the ice come forth,
and who has given birth totPs. 147:16, 17 the frost of heaven?
30 The waters become hard like stone,
and the face of the deep isu[ch. 37:10] frozen.
31 Can you bind the chains ofvch. 9:9; Amos 5:8 the Pleiades
or loose the cords ofvch. 9:9; Amos 5:8 Orion?
32 Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season,
or can you guidev[See ver. 31 above] the Bear with its children?
33 Do you knowwJer. 31:35 the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you establish their rule on the earth?
34 Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
thatxch. 22:11 a flood of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go
and say to you, ‘Here we are ’?
36 Who hasySee ch. 32:8 put wisdom inzPs. 51:6 the inward parts1Or ibis
or given understanding to the mind?2Or rooster
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
38 when the dust runs into a mass
andach. 21:33 the clods stick fast together?
39 Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
orb[Ps. 104:21] satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they crouch in theircch. 37:8 dens
or lie in waitdPs. 17:12 in their thicket?
41 Who provides forePs. 147:9; Luke 12:24; [Matt. 6:26] the raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God for help,
and wander about for lack of food?