[[Job 37|<< Job 37]] | [[Job|Job]] | [[Job 39|Job 39 >>]] ### Job 38 1 THEN the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, ^1 2 Who _is_ this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? ^2 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. ^3 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. ^4 5 Who has laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who has stretched the line upon it? ^5 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; ^6 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? ^7 8 Or _who_ shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, _as_ _if_ it had issued out of the womb? ^8 9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, ^9 10 And broke up for it my decreed _place_, and set bars and doors, ^10 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? ^11 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; _and_ caused the dayspring to know his place; ^12 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? ^13 14 It is turned as clay _to_ the seal; and they stand as a garment. ^14 15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. ^15 16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? ^16 17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? ^17 18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. ^18 19 Where _is_ the way _where_ light dwells? and _as_ _for_ darkness, where _is_ the place thereof, ^19 20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths _to_ the house thereof? ^20 21 Knowest thou _it_, because thou wast then born? or _because_ the number of thy days _is_ great? ^21 22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, ^22 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? ^23 24 By what way is the light parted, _which_ scatters the east wind upon the earth? ^24 25 Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; ^25 26 To cause it to rain on the earth, _where_ no man _is;_ _on_ the wilderness, wherein _there_ _is_ no man; ^26 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste _ground;_ and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? ^27 28 Has the rain a father? or who has begotten the drops of dew? ^28 29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it? ^29 30 The waters are hid as _with_ a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. ^30 31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? ^31 32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? ^32 33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? ^33 34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? ^34 35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we _are?_ ^35 36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart? ^36 37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, ^37 38 When the dust grows into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? ^38 39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, ^39 40 When they couch in _their_ dens, _and_ abide in the covert to lie in wait? ^40 41 Who provides for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat. ^41