Iyov 38:1-39:18 איוב ל״ח:א׳-ל״ט:י״ח

Then the Lord answered Iyyov out of the storm wind, and said,

Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and let me know thy answer.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who determined its measurements, if thou knowst? or who has stretched the line upon it?

whereupon are its foundations fastened? or who laid its corner stone;

when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, and issued out of the womb?

when I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it,

and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors,

and said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began; and caused the dayspring to know its place;

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

It is changed like clay under the seal; and they stand as a garment.

And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the recesses of the depth?

have the gates of death been opened to thee? or hast thou seen the doors of deepest darkness?

hast thou comprehended the expanse of the earth? declare if thou knowst it all.

Where is the way where light dwells? and as for darkness, where is its place,

that thou shouldst take it to its bound, and that thou shouldst know the paths to its home?

Thou knowst it because thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great.

Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,

which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

By what way is the light parted, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?

who has divided a watercourse for the torrent of rain, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

to cause it to rain on a land where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

to satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

Has the rain a father? or who has begotten the drops of dew?

out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoar frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

The waters are hidden as with a stone, and the face of the deep forms a solid mass.

Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?

canst thou bring forth Mazzarot in their season? or canst thou guide the Bear with his sons?

knowst thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou establish its dominion in the earth?

canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say to thee, Here we are?

Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the birds?

who can number the clouds by wisdom? or who can refill the bottles of heaven,

when the dust grows into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

when they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

Who provides for the raven his provision? when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?

Knowst thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowst thou the time when they bring forth?

They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they send forth their offspring.

Their young ones grow strong; they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not to them.

Who has sent out the wild ass free? or who has loosed the bands of the onager?

whose house I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwellings.

He scorns the tumult of the city, nor does he regard the shouts of the driver.

The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searches after every green thing.

Will the wild ox be willing to serve thee, or will he abide by thy crib?

canst thou bind the wild ox with ropes in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

The wing of the ostrich waves joyously; but are they the pinions and plumage of the stork?

For she leaves her eggs in the earth, and warms them in dust,

and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: though her labour is in vain of yet she is without fear;

because God has deprived her of wisdom, nor has he imparted to her understanding.

At some time she lifts up herself on high; she scorns the horse and his rider.