The Garden of Zion, Part 11 · Biblical figure · Chapter 38
Chap. 38.
AT this time the Almighty Lord
to Job an anſwere made
Out of the bluſtring whirlewind, and
after this maner ſaid.
2 Who is this that preſumptuouſly
doth counſell overcloud,
With darkneſſe thick, by fooliſh words
not having knowledge good?
3 Now like a man gird up thy loines,
for queſtions now of thee
I will demand, See if thou can
an anſwere make to me,
4 Where waſt thou when I of the earth
the ground-ſtone did lay faſt?
Declare to me if at this time
thou underſtanding haſt.
5 Now tell me if thou knows, thereof
who laid the meaſures out?
Or who upon it ſtretched hath
the line even round about?
6 The faire foundations all thereof
I pray thee whereupon
Faſtned are they? Or who of it
did lay the corner ſtone?
7 When as the morning ſtars above
together ſweetly ſang,
And all the ſons of GOD for joy
their ſhoutings highly rang.
8 Or who ſhut up the ſea with doors
that flowes the earth about,
When it brake foorth, as if it had
of the womb iſſu'd out?
9 When I the cloud its garment made
by my moſt mighty hand,
And darkneſſe thick for it alſo
to be a ſwadling band:
10 And alſo for it did break up
the place of my decree,
And wiſely ſet both barres and doores
for it alwayes to be,
11 And ſaid, Thou ſhalt come hitherto,
but ſhalt no further ſtray,
And heere thy proud and lofty waves
thou ſhalt not faile to ſtay.
12 Haſt thou the morning ſince thy dayes
had ever at thy beck?
Or haſt thou at his wonted place
the day cauſ'd ſpring to breake?
13 That it take hold might of the ends
of all the earth about?
And that the wicked might from it
be quickly ſhaken out
14 By GODS hand it is turned all,
as to the ſeale the clay,
And as a garment good they ſtand,
in moſt pleaſant aray.
15 And from the wicked men their light
is even with holden all,
And the hie arme of lofty ones
ſhall then be broken ſmall.
16 Haſt thou entred into the ſprings
of the moſt rageing ſea?
Or haſt thou ſearched all the ſhelfs,
that in the great depth be.
17 Unto thee all the gates of death
have they wide op'ned beene?
Or of deaths ſhadow black the doores
haſt thou moſt clearly ſeene.
18 By thy wiſedome haſt thou perceiv'd
the breadth of this great ball,
Even of the earth; declare it now
if thou doſt know it all.
19 Teach me alſo, where is the way
where the cleare light doth dwell;
And as for darkneſſe where's the place,
thereof, if thou can tell.
20 That thou ſhouldſt take it to its bounds
above or yet belowe,
And that the paths unto its houſe
thou perfectly ſhouldſt know.
21 Becauſe in that time borne thou waſt,
perfectly know,ſt thou it?
Or yet becauſe the number of
thy dayes is very great.
22 Haſt thou into the treaſures great
of ſnow even entred well,
Or haſt thou ſeen the ſtore houſe of
the hard congealed haile.
23 Which I for me, have well reſerv'd
againſt the tyme of jarres?
Againſt the day of battell and
the day of fearfull wars.
24 Canſt thou where the light parted is
the way by wiſedome find?
Which on the earth by violence
doth ſcatter the Eaſt wind?
25 Who hath the water ſpouts alſo
divided for the raine,
Or yet the way for thunder claps
whole ſound doth roare amaine?
26 To cauſe it raine upon the earth
where no man is at all;
Yea on the wilderneſſe wherein
is neither great nor ſmall?
27 To ſatisfie the deſolate
and waſte ground of no worth,
And to cauſe buds of tender herbs
moſt pleaſant to ſpring foorth.
28 If that the raine a father hath
if thou canſt, to me ſhew,
Who among all begotten hath
the pearly drops of dew?
29 Out of whoſe womb did come the yce
can thou a reaſon render,
As for the hoary froſt of heaven,
who at firſt did it gender?
30 The mighty waters flowing deep,
are hid as with a ſtone,
The face of all the deep through cold
is frozen all anone.
31 Of pleiades the influence
canſt thou bind with thine hands,
Or of the winter Orion,
canſt thou well looſe the bands?
32 Canſt thou bring foorth the Mazzaroth,
twelve ſignes in their ſeaſons,
Or canſt thou well Arcturus guide
with his faire gliſtring ſons?
33 Of heaven thee ordinances all
knowſt thou perfectly well?
Canſt thou ſet its dominion all
upon the earth by skill?
34 Canſt thou lift up thy voice unto
the clouds that are moſt hie,
That in abundance waters great
may come and cover thee?
35 Canſt thou by thy great ſtrength alſo
the fearfull lightnings ſend,
That they may go and ſay to thee,
we all thee heere attend?
36 Who is he that great wiſedome hath
put in the inward part?
Or who hath underſtanding given
unto mans fooliſh heart?
37 Who in wiſedome the clouds above,
with skill well number may:
Or of the high heavens who can once
the running bottels ſtay,
38 When as the duſt upon the earth
doth into hardneſſs grow,
And faſt to together cleave the clods,
when all is dry below?
39 Wilt thou even for the Lion fierce
take paines to hunt the prey,
Or th' appetite of lions young
to fill without delay!
40 When they moſt craftilie do couch
in dens moſt wide or ſtrait,
And in the covert hid abide,
for there to ly in waite?
41 Who for the Raven provides his food?
When his young ſtill do cry
Unto the LORD, for lacke of meat
they wander by and by.