^{1 Ref} Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

^{2 Ref} Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?

^{3 Ref} Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

^{4 Ref} Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

^{5 Ref} Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?

^{6 Ref} Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,

^{7 Ref} When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

^{8 Ref} Or `who' shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, `as if' it had issued out of the womb;

^{9 Ref} When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,

^{10 Ref} And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors,

^{11 Ref} And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

^{12 Ref} Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days `began', `And' caused the dayspring to know its place;

^{13 Ref} That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

^{14 Ref} It is changed as clay under the seal; And `all things' stand forth as a garment:

^{15 Ref} And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken.

^{16 Ref} Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?

^{17 Ref} Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?

^{18 Ref} Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.

^{19 Ref} Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

^{20 Ref} That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?

^{21 Ref} `Doubtless', thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!

^{22 Ref} Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

^{23 Ref} Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war?

^{24 Ref} By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?

^{25 Ref} Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;

^{26 Ref} To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

^{27 Ref} To satisfy the waste and desolate `ground', And to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

^{28 Ref} Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

^{29 Ref} Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

^{30 Ref} The waters hide themselves `and become' like stone, And the face of the deep is frozen.

^{31 Ref} Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?

^{32 Ref} Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?

^{33 Ref} Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?

^{34 Ref} Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee?

^{35 Ref} Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee, Here we are?

^{36 Ref} Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?

^{37 Ref} Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,

³⁸ When the dust runneth into a mass, And the clods cleave fast together?

^{39 Ref} Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

^{40 Ref} When they couch in their dens, `And' abide in the covert to lie in wait?

^{41 Ref} Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, `And' wander for lack of food?