1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10 And brake up for it my decreed place , and set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? 14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. 15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. 16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? 17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. 19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? 21 Knowest thou it , because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? 22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; 26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. 31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? 33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? 34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? 35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are ? 36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? 37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, 38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? 39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Dievs atbild Ījabam
(1Moz 1:1–10)1 Tad Kungs no viesuļa atbildēja Ījabam, sacīdams:
2 “Kas manu padomu aptumšo
vārdiem, kuros nav zināšanas?
3 Joz nu gurnus kā vīrs –
es tev vaicāšu, tu man stāstīsi,
4 kur tu biji, kad es liku pamatus zemei –
pastāsti, ja to zini!
5 Kas mēroja to, tu taču zini!
Kas auklu vilka tai pāri?
6 Zemes pamati kur gremdēti?
Kas stūrakmeni tai pasvieda,
7 kad gavilēja rīta zvaigznes
un līksmojās visi Dieva dēli?
8 Kas stiprām durvīm aizslēdza jūru,
kad tā lauzās no zemes klēpja,
9 kad es mākoņos to ģērbu
un miglas autos vīstīju,
10 kad aizliku tai savu robežu,
aizšāvu bultu un aizcirtu durvis,
11 un teicu:
tiktāl nāc, bet tālāk ne,
te stās tavi lepnie viļņi!
12 Vai kaut reizi esi pavēlējis rītam
un ausmai licis zināt tās vietu,
13 licis ņemt zemes stūrus
un nokratīt negantos no zemes virsas?
14 Zeme kļūst kā spiedoga māls,
un tie stāv kā uz drānas!
15 Atrauta ļaundariem gaisma,
viņu paceltais elkonis satriekts!
16 Vai esi ticis līdz jūras avotiem,
vai dzelmes dibenā nonācis esi?
17 Vai vērušies tev nāves vārti,
vai tumsības vārtus redzējis esi?
18 Vai zemes plašumus izpratis esi?
Pastāsti, ja visu to zini!
19 Kur tas ceļš, kur gaisma mīt? –
un tumsa – kur tās vieta? –
20 ka tu novestu mājup tās,
zinātu takas uz viņu namu.
21 Tu zini – tu biji jau dzimis,
un dienu tev bez sava skaita!
22 Vai esi nācis sniega kambaros,
vai krusas kambarus redzējis esi?
23 Tos es glabāju naida laikam,
cīniņu un kara dienai!
24 Pa kuru ceļu nogriežas rūsa,
kā pajūk austrenis zemei pāri?
25 Kas lietus gāzmām pašķir ceļu
un ceļā sūta pērkona tūces,
26 lai līst pār zemi, kur ļaužu nav,
pār tuksnesi, kur cilvēks nemājo,
27 kalšņas un smilšņas lai atveldzē,
lai izdiedzē zāli?
28 Vai tad lietum ir tēvs?
Kas dzemdina rasas lāses?
29 No kuras klēpja ledus nāk,
kas dzemdēja debesu sarmu?
30 Kā akmens ūdeņi stingst
un dzelmes vaigs sasalst.
31 Vai vari sasiet Sietiņa važas,
vai Muļķa saites atraisīt vari,
32 vai zvaigznājus vari vadīt to stundā,
vai Lāceni un tās dēlus vadāt tu vari?
33 Vai debesu likumus tu zini?
Vai tu liec tiem valdīt virs zemes?
34 Vai vari līdz mākoņiem pacelt balsi,
lai klāj tevi ūdeņu pali?
35 Vai tu sūti zibeņus, ka tie iet
un atsaucas tev: mēs šeit! –
36 Kas padebešiem dāvā gudrību,
kas manai debesteltij dod saprašanu?
37 Kas ar gudrību saskaita mākoņus,
kas debesu krūkas izlej,
38 ka pīšļi līp kopā
un zemes pikas saķep?
39 Vai tu nomedī lauvai laupījumu
un lauvēnu dzīvību uzturi,
40 kad tie savos midzeņos gul,
biezoknī pieplok, uz upuri glūn?
41 Kas krauklim dod medījumu,
kad šā bērni uz Dievu brēc,
tekalējot bez ēsmas?
