Job 37:1-38:19
English Standard Version
Elihu Proclaims God's Majesty
37 “At this also my heart trembles
and leaps out of its place.
2 Keep listening to the thunder of his voice
and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
and his (A)lightning to the (B)corners of the earth.
4 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.
5 God thunders wondrously with his voice;
he does (E)great things that we cannot (F)comprehend.
6 For to (G)the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7 He (H)seals up the hand of every man,
that all men whom he made may (I)know it.
8 Then the beasts go into their (J)lairs,
and remain in their (K)dens.
9 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]
The Lord Answers Job
38 Then the Lord (AJ)answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 “Who is this that (AK)darkens counsel by words (AL)without knowledge?
3 (AM)Dress for action[d] like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4 “Where were you when I (AN)laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars (AO)sang together
and all (AP)the sons of God (AQ)shouted for joy?
8 “Or who (AR)shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment
and (AS)thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed (AT)limits for it
and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your (AU)proud waves be stayed’?
12 “Have you (AV)commanded the morning since your days began,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold of (AW)the skirts of the earth,
and the wicked be (AX)shaken out of it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal,
and its features stand out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their (AY)light is withheld,
and (AZ)their uplifted arm is broken.
16 “Have you (BA)entered into the springs of the sea,
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have (BB)the gates of death been revealed to you,
or have you seen the gates of (BC)deep darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
Declare, if you know all this.
19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light,
and where is the place of darkness,
Job 37:1-38:19
New International Version
37 “At this my heart pounds(A)
and leaps from its place.
2 Listen!(B) Listen to the roar of his voice,(C)
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(D)
3 He unleashes his lightning(E) beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.(F)
4 After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders(G) with his majestic voice.(H)
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back.
5 God’s voice thunders(I) in marvelous ways;(J)
he does great things beyond our understanding.(K)
6 He says to the snow,(L) ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(M)
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,(N)
he stops all people from their labor.[a](O)
8 The animals take cover;(P)
they remain in their dens.(Q)
9 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]”
The Lord Speaks
38 Then the Lord spoke to Job(AU) out of the storm.(AV) He said:
2 “Who is this that obscures my plans(AW)
with words without knowledge?(AX)
3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.(AY)
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?(AZ)
Tell me, if you understand.(BA)
5 Who marked off its dimensions?(BB) Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line(BC) across it?
6 On what were its footings set,(BD)
or who laid its cornerstone(BE)—
7 while the morning stars(BF) sang together(BG)
and all the angels[c](BH) shouted for joy?(BI)
8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors(BJ)
when it burst forth from the womb,(BK)
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,(BL)
10 when I fixed limits for it(BM)
and set its doors and bars in place,(BN)
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;(BO)
here is where your proud waves halt’?(BP)
12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,(BQ)
or shown the dawn its place,(BR)
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wicked(BS) out of it?(BT)
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;(BU)
its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,(BV)
and their upraised arm is broken.(BW)
16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
or walked in the recesses of the deep?(BX)
17 Have the gates of death(BY) been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?(BZ)
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?(CA)
Tell me, if you know all this.(CB)
19 “What is the way to the abode of light?
And where does darkness reside?(CC)
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