The wonders of the Inanimate World

38 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

2 who is this, then, that darkeneth counsel

By words that are empty of knowledge?

3 Gird up they loins like a man:

I would ask of thee – do thou enlighten Me.

4 Where wast thou, when I founded the earth?

Declare out of the depths of thine insight.

5 Dost thou of know who appointed her measures,

Or who stretched upon her the line?

6 Whereupon were her pedestal sunk,

Or who laid her cornerstone,

7 When the morning-stars sang together,

And the sons of God shouted in chorus?

8 Who shut in the sea with doors,

When it burst its way out of the womb–

9 When gave it its robe of cloud,

And its swaddling band of the dark cloud;

10 When I broke off its border for it,

And set on its bars and doors,

11 Declaring, "Thus far, but no further,

And here shall thy proud waves be stayed"?

12 Didst thou ever give charge to the morning,

Or appoint to the day-star her place,

13 To take hold of the skirts of the earth,

And to shake out the wicked from off it?

14 It is changed as clay under the seal,

And the world stands forth (bright) as a garment.

16 Hast thou entered the springs of the ocean,

Or walked in the depths of the sea?

17 Have the gate-ways of Death been unveiled to thee?

Hast thou looked on the porters of Hades?

18 The breadth of the earth hast thou noted?

How great is it? Tell, if thou knowest.

19 Which way leads to the home of the light?

And where is the place of the darkness?

20 Canst thou fetch it out unto its border,

Or lead it back home to its house?

21 Thou wast born then, so doubtless thou knowest–

The tale of thy years is so great!

22 Hast thou entered the store-house of snow?

Hast thou looked on the guardians of hail,

23 Which I hoard for the time of distress,

for the day of assault and of battle?

24 Which way are the vapours divided,

That scatter on earth the cool water?

25 Who cleft for the torrents a channel,

A path for the flash of the lightning–

26 Sending rain on the desolate land,

On the uninhabited desert,

27 Thus gladdening the wilderness waste,

And the thirsty land clothing with verdure?

28 Say, hath the rain a father?

Or who hath begotten the dew-drops?

29 Out of whose womb issued the ice?

And the hoar-frost of heaven – who hath borne it?

30 The waters are frozen like stone,

And the face of the deep remains hidden.

31 Dost thou fasten the chain of the dog-star

Or loosen the bonds or Orion?

32 Dost thou bring out the stars in their season?

The Bear with her young dost thou lead?

33 Dost thou lay down the law to the heavens,

Or establish their rule in the earth?

34 Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds,

That abundance of waters obey thee?

35 Dost thou send on their mission the lightnings?

To thee do they say, "Here we are"?

36 Who hath set in the fleecy clouds wisdom?

Or given to the meteor insight?

37 Who spreadeth the clouds out in wisdom?

Who tilteth the pitchers of heaven,

38 When the dust runneth into a mass

And the clods cleave firmly together?