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Elihu Speaks of God’s Voice

37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
[a]Listen closely to the (A)thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His [b]lightning to the (B)ends of the earth.
After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain [c]the lightnings when His voice is heard.
God (C)thunders with His voice marvelously,
Doing (D)great things which we do not know.
For to (E)the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the (F)downpour of rain and the downpour of rains, ‘Be strong.’
He (G)seals the hand of every man,
That (H)all men may know His work.
Then the beast goes into its (I)lair
And dwells in its [d]den.
Out of the [e](J)south comes the storm,
And out of the [f]north the cold.
10 From the breath of God (K)ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 Also with moisture He (L)loads the thick cloud;
He (M)scatters (N)the cloud of His [g]lightning.
12 It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That [h]it may do whatever He (O)commands [i]it
On the (P)face of the inhabited earth.
13 Whether for [j](Q)correction, or for (R)His world,
Or for (S)lovingkindness, He causes it to [k]happen.

14 “Give ear to this, O Job,
Stand and carefully consider the wondrous deeds of God.
15 Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the [l]lightning of His cloud to shine?
16 Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds,
The (T)wonders of one [m](U)perfect in knowledge,
17 You whose garments are hot,
When the land is quiet because of the south wind?
18 Can you, with Him, (V)spread out the skies,
Strong as a molten mirror?
19 Make us know what we shall say to Him;
We (W)cannot arrange our case because of darkness.
20 Shall it be recounted to Him that I would speak?
[n]If a man says a word, will He indeed be swallowed up?

21 “So now [o]men do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 Out of the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is fearsome majesty.
23 The Almighty—(X)we cannot find Him;
He is (Y)exalted in power
And (Z)He will not afflict (AA)justice and abundant righteousness.
24 Therefore men (AB)fear Him;
He does not (AC)regard any who are wise of heart.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:2 Or Persist in listening
  2. Job 37:3 Lit light
  3. Job 37:4 Lit them
  4. Job 37:8 Lit dens
  5. Job 37:9 Lit chamber
  6. Job 37:9 Lit scattering winds
  7. Job 37:11 Lit light
  8. Job 37:12 Lit they
  9. Job 37:12 Lit them
  10. Job 37:13 Lit the rod
  11. Job 37:13 Lit be found
  12. Job 37:15 Lit light
  13. Job 37:16 Or blameless
  14. Job 37:20 Or If a man speaks, surely he shall be swallowed up
  15. Job 37:21 Lit they

37 Oh, my mind is disturbed by this
    and is more troubled than usual.
Listen closely to the rumble of his voice,
    the roar issuing from his mouth.
He looses it under the whole sky,
    his lightning on earth’s edges.
After it, a voice roars;
    he thunders with a mighty voice,
    and no one can stop it
    when his voice is heard.
God roars with his wondrous voice;
    he does great things we can’t know.
He says to the snow, “Fall to earth,”
    and to the downpour of rain, “Be a mighty shower.”
He stamps the hand of every person
    so all can know his work.[a]
The wild beast enters its lair,
    lies down in its den.
The storm comes from its chamber,
    the cold from the north wind.
10 By God’s breath ice forms;
    water’s expanse becomes solid.
11 He also fills clouds with moisture;
    his lightning scatters clouds.
12 He overturns the circling clouds;[b]
    by his guidance they do[c] their work,
    doing everything he commands over the entire earth.
13 Whether for punishment, for his world,
        or for kindness,
    God makes it all happen.

14 Hear this, Job;
    stop and ponder God’s mighty deeds.
15 Do you realize that when God commands them,
    his clouds produce lightning?
16 Do you understand the positioning of the clouds,
    the amazing deeds of one with perfect knowledge,
17 you whose clothes are hot
    when earth is calmed by the south wind?
18 Can you form the sky with him,
    hard like a mirror made of metal?
19 Tell us what we should say to him;
    we can’t present our case due to darkness.
20 Should someone inform him that I wish to speak,
    or would anyone say he wants to be devoured?

Divine splendor

21 For now, no one can look at the sun;
    it is bright in the sky;
        the wind has passed and cleared away the clouds.
22 From the north comes golden light,
    the awesome splendor of God.
23 As for the Almighty, we can’t find him—
    he is powerful and just, abundantly righteous—
    he won’t respond.
24 Therefore, people fear him;
    none of the wise[d] can see him.

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:7 Or that everyone he has made can know it
  2. Job 37:12 Heb uncertain
  3. Job 37:12 Heb lacks they do.
  4. Job 37:24 Or wise in heart; cf 9:4