Elihu Proclaims God's Majesty

37 “At this also my heart trembles
    and leaps out of its place.
Keep listening to the thunder of his voice
    and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
    and his (A)lightning to the (B)corners of the earth.
After it (C)his voice roars;
    (D)he thunders with his majestic voice,
    and he does not restrain the lightnings[a] when his voice is heard.
God thunders wondrously with his voice;
    he does (E)great things that we cannot (F)comprehend.
For to (G)the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
He (H)seals up the hand of every man,
    that all men whom he made may (I)know it.
Then the beasts go into their (J)lairs,
    and remain in their (K)dens.
From (L)its chamber (M)comes the whirlwind,
    and (N)cold from the scattering winds.
10 By the breath of God (O)ice is given,
    and (P)the broad waters are frozen fast.
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
    the clouds scatter his lightning.
12 They (Q)turn around and around by his (R)guidance,
    (S)to accomplish all that he commands them
    on the face of (T)the habitable world.
13 Whether for (U)correction or for his (V)land
    or for (W)love, he causes it to happen.

14 “Hear this, O Job;
    stop and (X)consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them
    and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16 Do you know the balancings[b] of the clouds,
    the wondrous works of him who is (Y)perfect in knowledge,
17 you whose garments are hot
    when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, like him, (Z)spread out the skies,
    hard as a cast metal (AA)mirror?
19 Teach us what we shall say to him;
    we cannot draw up our case because of (AB)darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I would speak?
    Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?

21 “And now no one looks on the light
    when it is bright in the skies,
    when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 Out of the north comes golden splendor;
    God is clothed with (AC)awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty—we (AD)cannot find him;
    he is (AE)great in power;
    (AF)justice and abundant righteousness he will not (AG)violate.
24 Therefore men (AH)fear him;
    he does not regard any who are (AI)wise in their own conceit.”[c]

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:4 Hebrew them
  2. Job 37:16 Or hoverings
  3. Job 37:24 Hebrew in heart

37 “At this my heart pounds(A)
    and leaps from its place.
Listen!(B) Listen to the roar of his voice,(C)
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(D)
He unleashes his lightning(E) beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.(F)
After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders(G) with his majestic voice.(H)
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
God’s voice thunders(I) in marvelous ways;(J)
    he does great things beyond our understanding.(K)
He says to the snow,(L) ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(M)
So that everyone he has made may know his work,(N)
    he stops all people from their labor.[a](O)
The animals take cover;(P)
    they remain in their dens.(Q)
The tempest comes out from its chamber,(R)
    the cold from the driving winds.(S)
10 The breath of God produces ice,
    and the broad waters become frozen.(T)
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;(U)
    he scatters his lightning(V) through them.(W)
12 At his direction they swirl around
    over the face of the whole earth
    to do whatever he commands them.(X)
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,(Y)
    or to water his earth and show his love.(Z)

14 “Listen(AA) to this, Job;
    stop and consider God’s wonders.(AB)
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
    and makes his lightning(AC) flash?(AD)
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,(AE)
    those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?(AF)
17 You who swelter in your clothes
    when the land lies hushed under the south wind,(AG)
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,(AH)
    hard as a mirror of cast bronze?(AI)

19 “Tell us what we should say to him;(AJ)
    we cannot draw up our case(AK) because of our darkness.(AL)
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,(AM)
    bright as it is in the skies
    after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;(AN)
    God comes in awesome majesty.(AO)
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;(AP)
    in his justice(AQ) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.(AR)
24 Therefore, people revere him,(AS)
    for does he not have regard for all the wise(AT) in heart?[b]

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
  2. Job 37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.