Who is this that darkeneth counsel by
words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of
thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the
earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof,
if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the
foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 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 brake forth, as if it had
issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick
darkness a swaddlingband for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, 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; and caused the dayspring to know his
place; That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might
be shaken out of it? It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. And from the wicked
their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. Hast thou entered
into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? Have
the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the
shadow of death? Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou
knowest it all. Where is the
way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, That thou
shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? Hast thou entered into the
treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures 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, which
scattereth the east wind upon the earth? Who hath divided a watercourse for the
overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; To cause it to
rain on the earth, 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? Hath the rain a father? or
who hath begotten the drops of dew? Out of whose womb came the ice? and the
hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the
deep is frozen. Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the
bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou
guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou
set 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 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
heart? Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of
heaven, When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast
together? Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite 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 God, they wander for lack of meat (Job 38:2-41).
