(KJV) Job 38¹

⥃The LORD Challenges Job

[1] Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,² [2] Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?³ [3] Gird⁴ up now thy loins like a man; for⁵ I will demand of thee, and answer thou me⁶. [4] Where⁷ wast thou when I⁸ laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast⁹ understanding. [5] Who hath laid¹⁰ the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched¹¹ the line upon it? [6] Whereupon¹² are the foundations¹³ thereof fastened¹⁴? or who laid the corner stone thereof; [7] When the morning¹⁵ stars sang together, and all the sons¹⁶ of God shouted¹⁷ for joy? [8] Or [who¹⁸] shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out¹⁹ of the womb? [9] When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick²⁰ darkness a swaddlingband for it, [10] And brake up for it my decreed [place²¹], and set bars and doors, [11] And said, Hitherto²² shalt thou come, but²³ no further: and here shall thy proud waves²⁴ be stayed? [12] Hast thou commanded²⁵ the morning since²⁶ thy days; [and] caused the dayspring²⁷ to know his place; [13] That it might take²⁸ hold of the ends²⁹ of the earth, that the wicked³⁰ might be shaken out of it? [14] It is turned as clay [to] the seal; and they stand as a³¹ garment. [15] And from³² the wicked their light is withholden, and the high³³ arm shall be broken. [16] Hast thou entered into the springs³⁴ of the sea? or hast thou walked³⁵ in the search of the depth? [17] Have the gates³⁶ of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow³⁷ of death? [18] Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.³⁸ [19] Where [is] the way³⁹ [where] light dwelleth? and [as for] darkness⁴⁰, where [is] the place thereof, [20] That thou shouldest take it to⁴¹ the bound⁴² thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths [to] the house thereof? [21] Knowest thou [it], because thou wast then born? or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?⁴³ [22] Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,⁴⁴ [23] Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?⁴⁵ [24] By what way is the light parted, [which] scattereth the east wind upon the earth?⁴⁶ [25] Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;⁴⁷ [26] To cause⁴⁸ it to rain on the earth, [where] no man [is]; [on] the wilderness⁴⁹, wherein [there is] no man; [27] To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground]; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? [28] Hath the⁵⁰ rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew⁵¹? [29] Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?⁵² [30] The waters are hid as [with] a stone, and the face⁵³ of the deep is frozen⁵⁴. [31] Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades⁵⁵, or loose the bands of Orion⁵⁶? [32] Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth⁵⁷ in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus⁵⁸ with his sons? [33] Knowest thou the ordinances⁵⁹ of heaven? canst⁶⁰ thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? [34] Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?⁶¹ [35] Canst⁶² thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we [are⁶³]? [36] Who hath put⁶⁴ wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given⁶⁵ understanding to the heart? [37] Who can number⁶⁶ the clouds in wisdom? or who⁶⁷ can stay⁶⁸ the bottles of heaven, [38] When the dust groweth into hardness⁶⁹, and the clods cleave fast together? [39] Wilt⁷⁰ thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite⁷¹ of the young lions, [40] When they couch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the covert to lie in wait?⁷² [41] Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat. ⁷³