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37 “因此我心战兢,
从原处移动。
听啊,听他轰轰的声音,
是 神口中所发的响声。
他发响声震遍天下,
他的闪电直到地极。
随后,人听见他的声音,
是那轰轰的声音;
他发出威严的雷声,
而不加以遏止。
 神发出奇妙的雷声;
他行大事,我们不能测透。
他对雪说:‘要降在地上’;
对大雨和暴雨也是这样说。
他封住各人的手,
叫所造的万人都知道他的作为。
野兽进入穴中,
卧在自己洞内。
暴风来自内宫,
寒冷出于狂风。
10  神嘘气成冰,
凝结宽阔之水,
11 使密云盛满水气,
乌云散布闪电。
12 云藉着他的指引游行旋转,
在世界的地面上行他一切所吩咐的,
13 或为责罚,或为他的地,
或为慈爱,都是他所行的。

14 约伯啊,侧耳听这话,
要站立,思想 神奇妙的作为。
15 你知道 神如何安排这些,
如何使云中的闪电照耀吗?
16 你知道云彩如何浮于空中,
知识全备者奇妙的作为吗?
17 你知道南风使地寂静,
你的衣服就变为热吗?
18 你岂能与 神同铺穹苍,
坚固如同铸成的镜子吗?
19 我们因在黑暗中,不会陈说,
请你指教我们该对他说什么。
20 有人告诉他我要说话吗?
岂有人说他愿被吞灭吗?

21 “现在,人不得见穹苍的亮光;
风一吹过,天色晴朗。
22 金色的光辉来自北方,
在 神那里有可畏的威严。
23 全能者,我们不能测度;
他大有能力,又有公平,
满有公义,必不苦待人。
24 所以,世人敬畏他;
凡自以为[a]有智慧的,他都不看顾。”

Footnotes

  1. 37.24 “自以为”:原文直译“心中”。

37 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

God’s Works and Wisdom

37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
He sends it forth under the whole heaven,
His [a]lightning to the ends of the earth.
After it (A)a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
God thunders marvelously with His voice;
(B)He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
For (C)He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the [b]gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
He seals the hand of every man,
(D)That (E)all men may know His work.
The beasts (F)go into dens,
And remain in their lairs.
From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,
And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 (G)By the breath of God ice is given,
And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
He scatters His [c]bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
That they may (H)do whatever He commands them
On the face of [d]the whole earth.
13 (I)He causes it to come,
Whether for [e]correction,
Or (J)for His land,
Or (K)for mercy.

14 “Listen to this, O Job;
Stand still and (L)consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God [f]dispatches them,
And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 (M)Do you know how the clouds are balanced,
Those wondrous works of (N)Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 Why are your garments hot,
When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 With Him, have you (O)spread out the (P)skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?

19 “Teach us what we should say to Him,
For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak?
If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies,
When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 He comes from the north as golden splendor;
With God is awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, (Q)we cannot find Him;
(R)He is excellent in power,
In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress.
24 Therefore men (S)fear Him;
He shows no partiality to any who are (T)wise of heart.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:3 Or light
  2. Job 37:6 Lit. shower of rain
  3. Job 37:11 clouds of light
  4. Job 37:12 Lit. the world of the earth
  5. Job 37:13 Lit. a rod
  6. Job 37:15 places them

Elihu Continues

I Am Frightened

37 I am frightened
    and tremble all over,
when I hear the roaring voice
    of God in the thunder,
and when I see his lightning
    flash across the sky.
God's majestic voice
    thunders his commands,[a]
creating miracles too marvelous
    for us to understand.
Snow and heavy rainstorms
make us stop and think
    about God's power,[b]
and they force animals
    to seek shelter.
The windstorms of winter strike,
10 and the breath of God
    freezes streams and rivers.
11 Rain clouds filled with lightning
    appear at God's command,
12 traveling across the sky
13     to release their cargo—
sometimes as punishment for sin,
    sometimes as kindness.

Consider Carefully

14 Job, consider carefully
    the many wonders of God.
15 Can you explain why lightning
flashes at the orders
16     of God who knows all things?
Or how he hangs the clouds
    in empty space?
17 You almost melt in the heat
of fierce desert winds
    when the sky is like brass.
18 God can hammer out the clouds
in spite of the oppressive heat,
    but can you?

19 Tell us what to say to God!
    Our minds are in the dark,
and we don't know how
    to argue our case.
20 Should I risk my life
by telling God
    that I want to speak?
21 No one can stare at the sun
after a breeze has blown
    the clouds from the sky.
22 Yet the glorious splendor
of God All-Powerful
    is brighter by far.
23 God cannot be seen—
but his power is great,
    and he is always fair.
24 And so we humans fear God,
    because he shows no respect
for those who are proud
    and think they know so much.

Footnotes

  1. 37.4 commands: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 4.
  2. 37.7 God's power: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 7.

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.