Job 37-38

Job 37

¹At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of its place.

²Hearken ye unto the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

³He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

⁴After it a voice roareth; he thundereth with the voice of his majesty: and he stayeth them not when his voice is heard.

⁵God thundereth marvelously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

⁶For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.

⁷He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men whom he hath made may know it.

⁸Then the beasts go into coverts, and remain in their dens.

⁹Out of the chamber of the south cometh the storm: and cold out of the north.

¹⁰By the breath of God ice is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

¹¹Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture; he spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning:

¹²And it is turned round about by his guidance, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the habitable world.

¹³Whether it be for correction, or for his land, or for mercy, that he cause it to come.

¹⁴Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

¹⁵Dost thou know how God layeth his charge upon them, and causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine?

¹⁶Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

¹⁷How thy garments are warm, when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

¹⁸Canst thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong as a molten mirror?

¹⁹Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

²⁰Shall it be told him that I would speak? or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

²¹And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

²²Out of the north cometh golden splendour: God hath upon him terrible majesty.

²³Touching the Almighty, we can not find him out; he is excellent in power: and in judgment and plenteous justice he will not afflict.

²⁴Men do therefore fear him: he regardeth not any that are wise of heart.

Job 38

¹Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

²Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

³Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

⁴Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

⁵Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who stretched the line upon it?

⁶Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

⁷When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

⁸Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb;

⁹When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

¹⁰And prescribed for it my decree, and set bars and doors,

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

¹²Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began, and caused the dayspring to know its place;

¹³That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?

¹⁴It is changed as clay under the seal; and all things stand forth as a garment:

¹⁵And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm is broken.

¹⁶Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?

¹⁷Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?

¹⁸Hast thou comprehended the breadth of the earth? declare, if thou knowest it all.

¹⁹Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and as for darkness, where is the place thereof;

²⁰That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?

²¹Doubtless, thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!

²²Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,

²³Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

²⁴By what way is the light parted, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?

²⁵Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, or a way for the lightning of the thunder;

²⁶To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

²⁷To satisfy the waste and desolate ground; and to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

²⁸Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

²⁹Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

³⁰The waters are hidden as with stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

³¹Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

³²Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?

³³Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?

³⁴Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

³⁵Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

³⁶Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?

³⁷Who can number the clouds by wisdom? or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,

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

³⁹Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness? or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

⁴⁰When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

⁴¹Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, and wander for lack of meat?