¶ Then spake the LORD unto Iob out of the storm, and said:
What is he that hideth his mind with foolish words?
Gird up thy loins like a man, for I will question thee, see thou give me a direct answer.
¶ Where wast thou, when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell plainly if thou hast understanding.
Who hath measured it, knowest thou? Or, who hath spread the line upon it?
Where upon stond the pillars of it? Or, who laid the corner stone?
Where wast thou, when the morning stars praised me together, and all the children of God rejoiced triumphantly?
Who shut the sea with doors, when it brake forth as a child out of his mother's womb?
When I made the clouds to be a covering for it, and swaddled it with the dark?
When I gave it my commandment, making doors and bars for it,
saying: Hither to shalt thou come, but no further, and here shalt thou lay down thy proud and high waves.
¶ Hast thou given the morning his charge (as soon as thou wast born) and shewed the day spring his place,
that it might take hold of the corners of the earth, and that the ungodly might be shaken out?
Their tokens and weapons hast thou turned like clay, and set them up again as the changing of a garment.
Yea thou hast spoiled the ungodly of their light, and broken the arm of the proud.
Camest thou ever into the ground of the sea: or hast thou walked in the low corners of the deep?
Have the gates of death been open unto thee, or hast thou seen the door of everlasting treasure?
Hast thou also perceived how broad the earth is? Now if thou hast knowledge of all,
then shew me where light dwelleth, and where darkness is:
that thou mayest bring us unto their quarters, if thou canst tell the way to their houses.
Knowest thou (when thou wast born) how old thou shouldest be?
Wentest thou ever into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the secret places of the hail,
which I have prepared against the time of trouble, against the time of battle and war?
By what way is the light parted, and the heat dealt out upon the earth?
¶ Who divideth the abundance of waters into rivers, or who maketh a way for the stormy weather,
that it watereth and moistureth the dry and barren ground:
to make the grass grow in places where no body dwelleth, and in the wilderness where no man remaineth?
Who is the father of rain? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
Out of whose womb came the ice? Who hath gendered the coldness of the air?
That the waters are as hard as stones, and lie congealed above the deep.
Hast thou brought the seven stars together? Or art thou able to break the Circle of heaven?
Canst thou bring forth the morning star or the evening star at convenient time, and convey them home again?
Knewest thou the course of heaven, that thou mayest set up the ordinance thereof upon the earth?
Moreover, canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that they may pour down a great rain upon thee?
Canst thou thunder also that they may go their way, and be obedient unto thee, saying: Lo here are we.
Who giveth sure wisdom or steadfast understanding?
Who numbereth the clouds in wisdom? Who stilleth the vehement waters of heaven?
Who turneth the clots to dust, and then to be clots again?
Huntest thou the prey from the lion,
or feedest thou his whelps living in their dens, and lurking in their couches?
Who provideth meat for the raven, when his young ones cry unto God, and fly about for want of meat?
Praise the Everlasting Lord for His Faithful Word.