Job 37
Christian Standard Bible
37 My heart(A) pounds at this
and leaps from my chest.[a]
2 Just listen to his thunderous voice
and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 He lets it loose beneath the entire sky;
his lightning to the ends(B) of the earth.
4 Then there comes a roaring sound;
God thunders(C) with his majestic voice.
He does not restrain the lightning
when his rumbling voice is heard.
5 God thunders wondrously with his voice;
he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6 For he says to the snow,(D) “Fall to the earth,”
and the torrential rains, his mighty torrential rains,
7 serve as his sign to all mankind,
so that all men may know his work.
8 The wild animals enter their lairs
and stay in their dens.(E)
9 The windstorm comes from its chamber,
and the cold from the driving north winds.
10 Ice is formed by the breath of God,(F)
and watery expanses are frozen.
11 He saturates clouds with moisture;(G)
he scatters his lightning through them.
12 They swirl about,
turning round and round at his direction,
accomplishing everything he commands them
over the surface of the inhabited world.
13 He causes this to happen for punishment,
for his land, or for his faithful love.
14 Listen to this, Job.
Stop and consider God’s wonders.
15 Do you know how God directs his clouds
or makes their lightning flash?
16 Do you understand how the clouds float,
those wonderful works of him who has perfect knowledge?
17 You whose clothes get hot
when the south wind brings calm to the land,
18 can you help God spread out the skies
as hard as a cast metal mirror?
19 Teach us what we should say to him;(H)
we cannot prepare our case because of our darkness.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
Can a man speak when he is confused?
21 Now no one can even look at the sun
after a wind has swept through and cleared the sky.
22 Out of the north he comes, shrouded in a golden glow;
awesome(I) majesty surrounds him.
23 The Almighty—we cannot reach him—
he is exalted in power!
He will not violate justice and abundant righteousness,
24 therefore, men fear him.
He does not look favorably on any who are wise(J) in heart.
Footnotes
- 37:1 Lit from its place
Job 37
American Standard Version
37 Yea, at this my heart trembleth,
And is moved out of its place.
2 Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice,
And the [a]sound that goeth out of his mouth.
3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven,
And his [b]lightning unto the [c]ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth;
He thundereth with the voice of his majesty;
And he restraineth not [d]the lightnings when his voice is heard.
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice;
Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
6 For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth;
Likewise to the shower of rain,
And to the showers of his mighty rain.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man,
That all men whom he hath made may know it.
8 Then the beasts go into coverts,
And remain in their dens.
9 Out of the chamber of the south cometh the storm,
And cold out of the [e]north.
10 By the breath of God ice is given;
And the breadth of the waters is [f]straitened.
11 Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture;
He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his [g]lightning:
12 And it is turned round about by his guidance,
That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them
Upon the face of the habitable world,
13 Whether it be for correction, or for his [h]land,
Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come.
14 Hearken unto this, O Job:
Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Dost thou know how God layeth his charge upon them,
And causeth the [i]lightning of his cloud to shine?
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds,
The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 [j]How thy garments are warm,
[k]When the earth is still by reason of the south wind?
18 Canst thou with him spread out the sky,
Which is strong as a molten mirror?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him;
For we cannot set our speech in order by reason of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I would speak?
[l]Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
21 And now men [m]see not the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind passeth, and cleareth them.
22 Out of the north cometh [n]golden splendor:
God hath upon him terrible majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out:
He is excellent in power;
And [o]in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict.
24 Men do therefore fear him:
He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.
Footnotes
- Job 37:2 Or, muttering
- Job 37:3 Hebrew light.
- Job 37:3 Hebrew skirts.
- Job 37:4 Hebrew them.
- Job 37:9 Hebrew scattering winds.
- Job 37:10 Or, congealed
- Job 37:11 Hebrew light.
- Job 37:13 Or, earth
- Job 37:15 Hebrew light.
- Job 37:17 Or, Thou whose garments are etc.
- Job 37:17 Or, When he quieteth the earth by the south wind
- Job 37:20 Or, If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up
- Job 37:21 Or, cannot look on the light when it is bright in the skies, When the wind hath passed, and cleared them
- Job 37:22 Hebrew gold.
- Job 37:23 Or, to justice . . . he doeth no violence
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