Where Were You

I said, "God, I do not understand this world
Everything is dying and broken
Why do I see nothing but suffering?"
God, I'm asking, "Could this be your plan?"
Sin has taken hold of this whole land
Will You not say anything else to me?

He said, "Where were you the day that I measured
Sunk the banks and stretched the line over
All the earth and carved out its cornerstone?
Where were you the day that I spoke and
Told the sun to split the night open
Calmed the morning dawn with its light to show

Who shut in the ocean with stone doors?
Marked the reach of tides on those new shores
Hung the day the waves rose and first broke forth
Have you seen the springs of that great sea
Walked the caverns carved in the black deep
Through the gates of darkness there on its floor

Have you seen the armoury I hold
Snow and hail are stacked up in silos?
For the times of trouble, and war, and strife
Can you raise your voice to the storm cloud
Would the thunder answer and ring out?
Does the lightning ask you where it should strike?

Who has cleft the channels for torrents
Rain to sprout the desert with forest
In the wilderness that my hand has built?
Can you hunt the prey for your lions?
Can you use the chords of Orion?
Is this whole world bending beneath your will?"

I spoke of things I did not understand
Things too wonderful for me
Although I had no right to ask
My God knelt and answered me