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

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest?

Or who stretched the line upon it?

Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened?

Or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of G.o.d shouted for joy?

Or who shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, When I made the cloud the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And prescribed for it my decree, 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; {223} That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

It is changed as clay under the seal; And all things stand forth as a garment: And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken.

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea?

Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?

Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee?

Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Hast thou comprehended the breadth of the earth?

Declare, if thou knowest it all.

Where is the way to the dwelling of light, And as for darkness, where is the place thereof; That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?

Doubtless, thou knowest, for 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 hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or a way for the lightning of the thunder; To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; {224} On the wilderness, wherein there is no man; To satisfy the waste and desolate ground; And to cause the tender gra.s.s to spring forth?

Canst thou bind the cl.u.s.ter of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?

Canst thou lead forth the signs of the Zodiac in their season?

Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?

Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens?

Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?

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

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

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts?

Or who hath given understanding to the mind?

Who can number the clouds by wisdom?

Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, When the dust runneth into a ma.s.s, And the clods cleave fast together?

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness?

Or satisfy the appet.i.te of the young lions, When they couch in their dens, And abide in the covert to lie in wait?

Who provideth for the raven his food, When his young ones cry unto G.o.d, And wander for lack of meat? {225} Who hath sent out the wild a.s.s free?

Or who hath loosed the bands of the wild a.s.s?

Whose house I have made the wilderness, And the salt land his dwelling place ..

He scorneth the tumult of the city, Neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver.

The range of the mountains is his pasture, And he searcheth after every green thing.

Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee?

Or will he abide by thy crib?

Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow?

Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great?

Or wilt thou leave to him thy labour?

Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, And gather the corn of thy threshing-floor?

The wing of the ostrich rejoiceth; But are her pinions and feathers kindly?

For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, And warmeth them in the dust, And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them.

She is hardened against her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labour be in vain, she is without fear; Because G.o.d hath deprived her of wisdom, Neither hath he imparted to her understanding. {226} What time she lifteth up herself on high, She scorneth the horse and his rider.

Hast thou given the horse his might?

Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane?

Hast thou made him to leap as a locust?

The glory of his snorting is terrible.

He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: He goeth out to meet the armed men.

He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed; Neither turneth he back from the sword.

The quiver rattleth against him, The flashing spear and the javelin.

He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; Neither believeth he that it is the voice of the trumpet As oft as the trumpet soundeth he saith, "Aha!"

And he smelleth the battle afar off, The thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

Doth the hawk soar by thy wisdom, And stretch her wings toward the south?

Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, And make her nest on high?

She dwelleth on the rock, and hath her lodging there, Upon the crag of the rock, and the strong hold.

From thence she spieth out the prey; Her eyes behold it afar off.

Her young ones also suck up blood: And where the slain are, there is she.

{227}

JOB.

Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee?

I lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; Yea twice, but I will proceed no further.

THE LORD.

(Out of the whirlwind.)

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

Wilt thou even disannul my judgment?

Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified?

Or hast thou an arm like G.o.d?

And canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

Deck thyself now with excellency and dignity; And array thyself with honour and majesty.

Pour forth the overflowings of thine anger: And look upon everyone that is proud, and abase him.

Look on everyone that is proud, and bring him low; And tread down the wicked where they stand.

Hide them in the dust together; Bind their faces in the hidden place.

Then will I also confess of thee That thine own right hand can save thee.