Job 37
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]
Job 37
International Standard Version
Elihu Concludes His Argument
37 “Now I’ll conclude with this:
my heart is trembling violently;
it feels like it’s about to leap from my body!
2 Listen carefully to his thundering voice;
to the sound that rumbles from his mouth.
3 He releases his lightning throughout the sky,
to the ends[a] of the earth.
4 His thunder roars after it;
his majestic voice will thunder;
and no one can trace them[b]
once his voice has been heard.
5 “God thunders with his wondrous voice;
he does awesome works that we don’t comprehend.
6 For he says to the snow, ‘Fall to the earth.’
He tells the rain, ‘Pour down,’
then it rains profusely.
7 “He puts a limit to the skill[c] of every person;
to delineate all people from what they do.
8 “Then a beast enters its lair
and remains in its den.
9 “From the south,[d] a whirlwind proceeds,
out of the icy north winds.
10 From the breath of God ice is produced,
and a wide body of water is frozen.
11 He also loads the clouds with moisture,
scattering his lightning with the clouds.
12 It whirls about in circles at his direction
to accomplish all that he commands
throughout the surface of the entire world,
13 whether for discipline on his land
or to demonstrate his gracious love,
he causes it to be realized.”
Elihu Challenges Job to Pay Attention
14 “Pay attention to this, Job!
Stand still,
and consider the wondrous attributes of God.
15 Do you know how God ordains them,
and makes his lightning to flash throughout his clouds?
16 Do you understand his wondrous work of balancing the clouds,
the one[e] whose knowledge is perfect,
17 you whose garments are hot,
even though the land is cooled by a south wind?
18 Can you spread out the skies like he does;
can you cast them as one might a mirror?
19 Tell us! What are we to say to him?
Can we prepare our case to face him
when our faces are in darkness?
20 Has it been relayed to God[f] that I want to talk?
Can a person[g] speak when he is confused?”
God is Revered
21 “So then, the sun[h] is too bright to gaze at, is it not?
The sky is swept clean by the wind that blows,[i] is it not?
22 From the north he brings gold;
around God is awesome splendor.
23 We cannot find the Almighty—
he is majestic in power and justice,
and overflowing with righteousness;
he never oppresses.
24 Therefore humanity fears him,
which none of the wise[j] can quite comprehend.”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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