God interposes and shews from the things he hath made, that man cannot comprehend his power and wisdom.

[1] Then the Lord answered Job out of a whirlwind, and said: [2] Who is this that wrappeth up sentences in unskillful words? [3] Gird up thy loins like a man: I will ask thee, and answer thou me. [4] Where wast thou when I laid up the foundations of the earth? tell me if thou hast understanding. [5] Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

[1] "The Lord": That is, an angel speaking in the name of the Lord.

[6] Upon what are its bases grounded? or who laid the corner stone thereof, [7] When the morning stars praised me together, and all the sons of God made a joyful melody? [8] Who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth as issuing out of the womb: [9] When I made a cloud the garment thereof, and wrapped it in a mist as in swaddling bands? [10] I set my bounds around it, and made it bars and doors:

[11] And I said: Hitherto thou shalt come, and shalt go no further, and here thou shalt break thy swelling waves. [12] Didst thou since thy birth command the morning, and shew the dawning of the day its place? [13] And didst thou hold the extremities of the earth shaking them, and hast thou shaken the ungodly out of it? [14] The seal shall be restored as clay, and shall stand as a garment: [15] From the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the high arm shall be broken.

[16] Hast thou entered into the depths of the sea, and walked in the lowest parts of the deep? [17] Have the gates of death been opened to thee, and hast thou seen the darksome doors? [18] Hast thou considered the breadth of the earth? tell me, if thou knowest all things? [19] Where is the way where light dwelleth, and where is the place of darkness: [20] That thou mayst bring every thing to its own bounds, and understand the paths of the house thereof.

[21] Didst thou know then that thou shouldst be born? and didst thou know the number of thy days? [22] Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, or has thou beheld the treasures of the hail: [23] Which I have prepared for the time of the enemy, against the day of battle and war? [24] By what way is the light spread, and heat divided upon the earth? [25] Who gave a course to violent showers, or a way for noisy thunder:

[26] That it should rain on the earth without man in the wilderness, where no mortal dwelleth: [27] That it should fill the desert and desolate land, and should bring forth green grass? [28] Who is the father of rain? or who begot the drops of dew? [29] Out of whose womb came the ice; and the frost from heaven who hath gendered it? [30] The waters are hardened like a stone, and the surface of the deep is congealed.

[31] Shalt thou be able to join together the shining stars the Pleiades, or canst thou stop the turning about of Arcturus? [32] Canst thou bring forth the day star in its time, and make the evening star to rise upon the children of the earth? [33] Dost thou know the order of heaven, and canst thou set down the reason thereof on the earth? [34] Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that an abundance of waters may cover thee? [35] Canst thou send lightnings, and will they go, and will they return and say to thee: Here we are?

[31] "Pleiades": Hebrew, Cimah. A cluster of seven stars in the constellation Taurus or the Bull. Arcturus, a bright star in the constellation Bootes. The Hebrew name Cesil, is variously interpreted; by some, Orion; by others, the Great Bear is understood.

[36] Who hath put wisdom in the heart of man? or who gave the cock understanding? [37] Who can declare the order of the heavens, or who can make the harmony of heaven to sleep? [38] When was the dust poured on the earth, and the clods fastened together? [39] Wilt thou take the prey for the lioness, and satisfy the appetite of her whelps, [40] When they couch in the dens and lie in wait in holes?

[36] "Understanding": That instinct by which he distinguishes the times of crowing in the night.

[41] Who provideth food for the raven, when her young ones cry to God, wandering about, because they have no meat?