Hearken unto this, O Job:

45

Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of
God.

Dost thou know how God layeth his charge upon them,
And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine?
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds,

The wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

Thou whose garments are warm

When he quieteth the earth by the south wind: Canst thou with him spread out the sky,

Which is strong as a molten mirror?

Teach us what we shall say unto him;

For we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. Shall it be told him that I would speak?

If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
[Supernatural brightness mingles strangely with the
darkness of the storm.

And now men cannot look on the light when it is bright in the skies,

When the wind hath passed, and cleansed them. Out of the north cometh golden splendour:

God hath upon him terrible majesty.

Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out; he is excellent in power;

And to judgement and plenteous justice he doeth no

violence.

Men do therefore fear him:

He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.

[The roar of the whirlwind gives place to a VOICE.

106

V

DIVINE INTERVENTION

VOICE OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND

46

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 declare thou unto me.

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

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

Whereupon were 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, and issued out of the womb;
When I made the cloud the garment thereof,
And thick darkness a swaddling band for it,

And prescribed for it my decree,

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 began,
And caused the dayspring to know its place;

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,

And the wicked be shaken out of it?

It is changed as clay under the seal;

And all things stand forth as a garment:

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

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea?
Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee?
Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Hast thou comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Declare, if thou knowest it all

Where is the way to the dwelling of light,

And as for darkness, where is the place thereof;

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

Doubtless, thou knowest, for thou wast then borr,
And the number of thy days is great!

Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow,
Or hast thou seen the treasuries 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,

Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood,
Or a way for the lightning of the thunder;

To cause it to rain on a land where no man is;
On a wilderness, wherein there is no man;
To satisfy the waste and desolate ground;
And to cause the tender grass 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 hidden as with stone,

And the face of the deep is frozen.

Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades,

Or loose the bands of Orion?

Canst thou lead forth the signs of the Zodiac in thell season?

Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?

Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens?

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