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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁰ And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

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

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

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

¹⁴ It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

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

¹⁶ Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

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

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

¹⁹ Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

²⁰ That thou shouldest take it to the bound 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?

²² Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

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

²⁴ By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

²⁵ Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

²⁶ To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, 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 the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

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

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

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

³² Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

³³ Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst 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?

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

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

³⁷ Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

³⁸ When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

³⁹ Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

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

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

---

¹ Then the LORD ^H3068 answered ^H6030 Job ^H347 out of the whirlwind, ^H5591 and said, ^H559

² Who is this that darkeneth ^H2821 counsel ^H6098 by words ^H4405 without knowledge? ^H1847

³ Gird up ^H247 now thy loins ^H2504 like a man; ^H1397 for I will demand ^H7592 of thee, and answer ^H3045 thou me.

⁴ Where ^H375 wast thou when I laid the foundations ^H3245 of the earth? ^H776 declare, ^H5046 if thou hast ^H3045 understanding. ^H998

⁵ Who hath laid ^H7760 the measures ^H4461 thereof, if thou knowest? ^H3045 or who hath stretched ^H5186 the line ^H6957 upon it?

⁶ Whereupon are the foundations ^H134 thereof fastened? ^H2883 or who laid ^H3384 the corner ^H6438 stone ^H68 thereof;

⁷ When the morning ^H1242 stars ^H3556 sang ^H7442 together, ^H3162 and all the sons ^H1121 of God ^H430 shouted ^H7321 for joy?

⁸ Or who shut up ^H5526 the sea ^H3220 with doors, ^H1817 when it brake forth, ^H1518 as if it had issued out ^H3318 of the womb? ^H7358

⁹ When I made ^H7760 the cloud ^H6051 the garment ^H3830 thereof, and thick darkness ^H6205 a swaddlingband ^H2854 for it,

¹⁰ And brake up ^H7665 for it my decreed ^H2706 place, and set ^H7760 bars ^H1280 and doors, ^H1817

¹¹ And said, ^H559 Hitherto ^{H5704 H6311} shalt thou come, ^H935 but no further: ^H3254 and here shall thy proud ^H1347 waves ^H1530 be stayed? ^H7896

¹² Hast thou commanded ^H6680 the morning ^H1242 since thy days; ^H3117 and caused the dayspring ^H7837 to know ^H3045 his place; ^H4725

¹³ That it might take hold ^H270 of the ends ^H3671 of the earth, ^H776 that the wicked ^H7563 might be shaken out ^H5287 of it?

¹⁴ It is turned ^H2015 as clay ^H2563 to the seal; ^H2368 and they stand ^H3320 as a garment. ^H3830

¹⁵ And from the wicked ^H7563 their light ^H216 is withholden, ^H4513 and the high ^H7311 arm ^H2220 shall be broken. ^H7665

¹⁶ Hast thou entered ^H935 into the springs ^H5033 of the sea? ^H3220 or hast thou walked ^H1980 in the search ^H2714 of the depth? ^H8415

¹⁷ Have the gates ^H8179 of death ^H4194 been opened ^H1540 unto thee? or hast thou seen ^H7200 the doors ^H8179 of the shadow of death? ^H6757

¹⁸ Hast thou perceived ^H995 the breadth ^H7338 of the earth? ^H776 declare ^H5046 if thou knowest ^H3045 it all.

¹⁹ Where is the way ^H1870 where light ^H216 dwelleth? ^H7931 and as for darkness, ^H2822 where is the place ^H4725 thereof,

²⁰ That thou shouldest take ^H3947 it to the bound ^H1366 thereof, and that thou shouldest know ^H995 the paths ^H5410 to the house ^H1004 thereof?

²¹ Knowest ^H3045 thou it, because thou wast then born? ^H3205 or because the number ^H4557 of thy days ^H3117 is great? ^H7227

²² Hast thou entered ^H935 into the treasures ^H214 of the snow? ^H7950 or hast thou seen ^H7200 the treasures ^H214 of the hail, ^H1259

²³ Which I have reserved ^H2820 against the time ^H6256 of trouble, ^H6862 against the day ^H3117 of battle ^H7128 and war? ^H4421

²⁴ By what ^H335 way ^H1870 is the light ^H216 parted, ^H2505 which scattereth ^H6327 the east wind ^H6921 upon the earth? ^H776

²⁵ Who hath divided ^H6385 a watercourse ^H8585 for the overflowing of waters, ^H7858 or a way ^H1870 for the lightning ^H2385 of thunder; ^H6963

²⁶ To cause it to rain ^H4305 on the earth, ^H776 where no man ^H376 is; on the wilderness, ^H4057 wherein there is no man; ^H120

²⁷ To satisfy ^H7646 the desolate ^H7722 and waste ^H4875 ground; and to cause the bud ^H4161 of the tender herb ^H1877 to spring forth? ^H6779

²⁸ Hath ^H3426 the rain ^H4306 a father? ^H1 or who hath begotten ^H3205 the drops ^H96 of dew? ^H2919

²⁹ Out of whose womb ^H990 came ^H3318 the ice? ^H7140 and the hoary frost ^H3713 of heaven, ^H8064 who hath gendered ^H3205 it?

³⁰ The waters ^H4325 are hid ^H2244 as with a stone, ^H68 and the face ^H6440 of the deep ^H8415 is frozen. ^H3920

³¹ Canst thou bind ^H7194 the sweet influences ^H4575 of Pleiades, ^H3598 or loose ^H6605 the bands ^H4189 of Orion? ^H3685

³² Canst thou bring forth ^H3318 Mazzaroth ^H4216 in his season? ^H6256 or canst thou guide ^H5148 Arcturus ^H5906 with his sons? ^H1121

³³ Knowest ^H3045 thou the ordinances ^H2708 of heaven? ^H8064 canst thou set ^H7760 the dominion ^H4896 thereof in the earth? ^H776

³⁴ Canst thou lift up ^H7311 thy voice ^H6963 to the clouds, ^H5645 that abundance ^H8229 of waters ^H4325 may cover ^H3680 thee?

³⁵ Canst thou send ^H7971 lightnings, ^H1300 that they may go, ^H3212 and say ^H559 unto thee, Here we are?

³⁶ Who hath put ^H7896 wisdom ^H2451 in the inward parts? ^H2910 or who hath given ^H5414 understanding ^H998 to the heart? ^H7907

³⁷ Who can number ^H5608 the clouds ^H7834 in wisdom? ^H2451 or who can stay ^H7901 the bottles ^H5035 of heaven, ^H8064

³⁸ When the dust ^H6083 groweth ^H3332 into hardness, ^H4165 and the clods ^H7263 cleave fast together? ^H1692

³⁹ Wilt thou hunt ^H6679 the prey ^H2964 for the lion? ^H3833 or fill ^H4390 the appetite ^H2416 of the young lions, ^H3715

⁴⁰ When they couch ^H7817 in their dens, ^H4585 and abide ^H3427 in the covert ^H5521 to ^H3926 lie in wait? ^H695

⁴¹ Who provideth ^H3559 for the raven ^H6158 his food? ^H6718 when his young ones ^H3206 cry ^H7768 unto God, ^H410 they wander ^H8582 for lack ^H1097 of meat. ^H400

---

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

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

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

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

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

⁶ Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,

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

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

⁹ When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,

¹⁰ And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁸ Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

²⁷ To satisfy the waste and desolate `ground', And to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

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

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

³⁰ The waters hide themselves `and become' like stone, And the face of the deep is frozen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

³⁹ Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

⁴⁰ When they couch in their dens, `And' abide in the covert to lie in wait?

⁴¹ Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, `And' wander for lack of food?

---

¹ And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: --

² Who `is' this -- darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?

³ Gird, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.

⁴ Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.

⁵ Who placed its measures -- if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?

⁶ On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?

⁷ In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,

⁸ And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out.

⁹ In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,

¹⁰ And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,

¹¹ And say, `Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'

¹² Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou the dawn to know its place?

¹³ To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,

¹⁴ It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.

¹⁵ And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.

¹⁶ Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?

¹⁷ Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?

¹⁸ Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare -- if thou hast known it all.

¹⁹ Where `is' this -- the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where `is' this -- its place?

²⁰ That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.

²¹ Thou hast known -- for then thou art born And the number of thy days `are' many!

²² Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?

²³ That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle.

²⁴ Where `is' this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.

²⁵ Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?

²⁶ To cause `it' to rain on a land -- no man, A wilderness -- no man in it.

²⁷ To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?

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

²⁹ From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?

³⁰ As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.

³¹ Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?

³² Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?

³³ Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?

³⁴ Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?

³⁵ Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, `Behold us?'

³⁶ Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?

³⁷ Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,

³⁸ In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?

³⁹ Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?

⁴⁰ When they bow down in dens -- Abide in a thicket for a covert?

⁴¹ Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.

---

¹ And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,

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

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

⁴ Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

⁵ Who set the measures thereof -- if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?

⁶ Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,

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

⁸ And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb?

⁹ When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;

¹⁰ When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,

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

¹² Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou caused the dawn to know its place,

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

¹⁴ It is changed like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:

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

¹⁶ Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?

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

¹⁸ Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.

¹⁹ Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,

²⁰ That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?

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

²² Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,

²³ Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war?

²⁴ By what way is the light parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?

²⁵ Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;

²⁶ To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man;

²⁷ To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground], and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth?

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

²⁹ Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?

³⁰ When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.

³¹ Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?

³² Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?

³³ Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?

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

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

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

³⁷ Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,

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

³⁹ Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

⁴⁰ When they crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?

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

---

¹ Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,

² "Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?

³ Brace yourself like a man, For I will question you, then you answer me!

⁴ "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.

⁵ Who determined the measures of it, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?

⁶ Whereupon were the foundations of it fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,

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

⁸ "Or who shut up the sea with doors, When it broke forth from the womb,

⁹ When I made clouds the garment of it, Thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,

¹⁰ Marked out for it my bound, Set bars and doors,

¹¹ And said, 'Here you may come, but no further; Here shall your proud waves be stayed?'

¹² "Have you commanded the morning in your days, And caused the dawn to know its place;

¹³ That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And shake the wicked out of it?

¹⁴ It is changed as clay under the seal, And stands forth as a garment.

¹⁵ From the wicked, their light is withheld, The high arm is broken.

¹⁶ "Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?

¹⁷ Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

¹⁸ Have you comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if you know it all.

¹⁹ "What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is the place of it,

²⁰ That you should take it to the bound of it, That you should discern the paths to the house of it?

²¹ Surely you know, for you were born then, And the number of your days is great!

²² Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, Or have you seen the treasures of the hail,

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

²⁴ By what way is the lightning distributed, Or the east wind scattered on the earth?

²⁵ Who has cut a channel for the flood water, Or the path for the thunderstorm;

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

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

²⁸ Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?

²⁹ Out of whose womb came the ice? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it?

³⁰ The waters become hard like stone, When the surface of the deep is frozen.

³¹ "Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loosen the cords of Orion?

³² Can you lead forth the constellations in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?

³³ Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish the dominion of it over the earth?

³⁴ "Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover you?

³⁵ Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, 'Here we are?'

³⁶ Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?

³⁷ Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the sky,

³⁸ When the dust runs into a mass, And the clods of earth stick together?

³⁹ "Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

⁴⁰ When they crouch in their dens, And lie in wait in the thicket?

⁴¹ Who provides for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry to God, And wander for lack of food?

---

¹ And the Lord made answer to Job out of the storm-wind, and said,

² Who is this who makes the purpose of God dark by words without knowledge?

³ Get your strength together like a man of war; I will put questions to you, and you will give me the answers.

⁴ Where were you when I put the earth on its base? Say, if you have knowledge.

⁵ By whom were its measures fixed? Say, if you have wisdom; or by whom was the line stretched out over it?

⁶ On what were its pillars based, or who put down its angle-stone,

⁷ When the morning stars made songs together, and all the sons of the gods gave cries of joy?

⁸ Or where were you when the sea came to birth, pushing out from its secret place;

⁹ When I made the cloud its robe, and put thick clouds as bands round it,

¹⁰ Ordering a fixed limit for it, with locks and doors;

¹¹ And said, So far you may come, and no farther; and here the pride of your waves will be stopped?

¹² Have you, from your earliest days, given orders to the morning, or made the dawn conscious of its place;

¹³ So that it might take a grip of the skirts of the earth, shaking all the evil-doers out of it?

¹⁴ It is changed like wet earth under a stamp, and is coloured like a robe;

¹⁵ And from the evil-doers their light is kept back, and the arm of pride is broken.

¹⁶ Have you come into the springs of the sea, walking in the secret places of the deep?

¹⁷ Have the doors of death been open to you, or have the door-keepers of the dark ever seen you?

¹⁸ Have you taken note of the wide limits of the earth? Say, if you have knowledge of it all.

¹⁹ Which is the way to the resting-place of the light, and where is the store-house of the dark;

²⁰ So that you might take it to its limit, guiding it to its house?

²¹ No doubt you have knowledge of it, for then you had come to birth, and the number of your days is great.

²² Have you come into the secret place of snow, or have you seen the store-houses of the ice-drops,

²³ Which I have kept for the time of trouble, for the day of war and fighting?

²⁴ Which is the way to the place where the wind is measured out, and the east wind sent out over the earth?

²⁵ By whom has the way been cut for the flowing of the rain, and the flaming of the thunder;

²⁶ Causing rain to come on a land where no man is living, on the waste land which has no people;

²⁷ To give water to the land where there is waste and destruction, and to make the dry land green with young grass?

²⁸ Has the rain a father? or who gave birth to the drops of night mist?

²⁹ Out of whose body came the ice? and who gave birth to the cold mist of heaven?

³⁰ The waters are joined together, hard as a stone, and the face of the deep is covered.

³¹ Are the bands of the Pleiades fixed by you, or are the cords of Orion made loose?

³² Do you make Mazzaroth come out in its right time, or are the Bear and its children guided by you?

³³ Have you knowledge of the laws of the heavens? did you give them rule over the earth?

³⁴ Is your voice sent up to the cloud, so that you may be covered by the weight of waters?

³⁵ Do you send out the thunder-flames, so that they may go, and say to you, Here we are?

³⁶ Who has put wisdom in the high clouds, or given knowledge to the lights of the north?

³⁷ By whose wisdom are the clouds numbered, or the water-skins of the heavens turned to the earth,

³⁸ When the earth becomes hard as metal, and is joined together in masses?