Chapter 38

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

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  Who [is] this -- darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  Where [is] this -- the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where [is] this -- its place?  

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

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  Thou hast known -- for then thou art born And the number of thy days [are] many!  

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

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

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  Where [is] this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.  

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

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  To cause [it] to rain on a land -- no man, A wilderness -- no man in it.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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