When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness for its swaddling-band.

CCLx.x.xII

Then I brake up for it its appointed place, And set it bars and portals, And said: "Hitherto shalt thou come, And here shall thy haughty waves be stayed!"

CCLx.x.xIII

Was it at thy prompting that I commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place?

That it might seize hold of the ends of the earth, That the wicked might be shaken out?[252]

CCLx.x.xIV

Then the earth changes as clay under the seal, And all things appear therein as an embroidery;[253]

But from the wicked is withholden their hiding-place, And the raised arm shall be shattered.

CCLx.x.xV

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea?

Or hast thou walked in search of the abysses?

Have the gates of death been opened unto thee, Or hast thou seen the doors of darkness?

CCLx.x.xVI

Hast thou surveyed the breadth of the earth?

Declare, if thou knowest, its measure!

Thou must needs know it, for then wast thou already born, And great is the number of thy days!

CCLx.x.xVII

Which way leadeth to the dwelling of light?

And of darkness, where is the abode?

That thou shouldst take it to its bounds, And that thou shouldst know the paths to its house?

CCLx.x.xVIII

Hast thou entered into the granaries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the a.r.s.enals of the hail, Which I have laid up for the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and of war?

CCLx.x.xIX

By what way is the mist parted?

And the east wind scattered upon the earth?

Who hath divided its course for the rain-storm?

And its path for the lightning of thunder?

CCXC

Out of whose womb issued the ice?

And who gendered the h.o.a.r-frost of heaven?

The waters are as stone, And the face of the deep condensed like clots together.

CCXCI

Canst thou bind the knots of the Pleiads, Or loose the fetters of Orion?

Canst thou send lightnings that they may speed, And say unto thee: Here we are?

CCXCII

Who in his wisdom can number the clouds, Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, That the dust may thicken into mire, And the clods cleave close together?

CCXCII

Canst thou hunt its prey for the lion, Or sate the appet.i.te of the young lions, When they couch in their dens, And abide in the covert to lie in wait?

CCXCIV

Who provideth his food for the raven, When his young ones cry unto G.o.d?

It hovereth around nor groweth weary, Seeking food for its nestlings.

CCXCV

Canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

Canst thou number the months when they bring forth?

They cast out their burdens, Their little ones grow up out of doors.

CCXCVI

Who hath sent out the wild a.s.s free, Whose dwelling I have made the wilderness, Who scorneth the noise of the city, Nor heedeth the driver's cry?

CCXCVII

Will the wild ox be willing to serve thee, Or abide by thy grip?

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

CCXCVIII

Dost thou bestow might upon the horse?

Dost thou clothe his neck with a waving mane?

Dost thou make him to bound like a locust, In the pride of his terrible snort?

CCXCIX

He paws in the vale and rejoices; Goes with strength to encounter the weapons; He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, And recoileth not from the sword.

CCC

The quiver clangs upon him, The flashing lance and the javelin; Furiously bounding, he swallows the ground, And cannot be reined in at the trumpet-blast.

CCCI