Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5

1 Then from the heart of the tempest Yahweh gave Job his answer. He said:

12 Have you ever in your life given orders to the morning or sent the dawn to its post,

13 to grasp the earth by its edges and shake the wicked out of it?

14 She turns it as red as a clay seal, she tints it as though it were a dress,

15 stealing the light from evil-doers and breaking the arm raised to strike.

16 Have you been right down to the sources of the sea and walked about at the bottom of the Abyss?

17 Have you been shown the gates of Death, have you seen the janitors of the Shadow dark as death?

18 Have you an inkling of the extent of the earth? Tell me all about it if you have!

19 Which is the way to the home of the Light, and where does darkness live? -

20 You could then show them the way to their proper places, you could put them on the path home again!

21 If you do know, you must have been born when they were, you must be very old by now!

3 Job replied to Yahweh:

4 My words have been frivolous: what can I reply? I had better lay my hand over my mouth.

5 I have spoken once, I shall not speak again; I have spoken twice, I have nothing more to say.