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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 “At this also my heart trembles
    and leaps out of its place.
Listen, listen to the thunder of his voice
    and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(A)
Under the whole heaven he lets it loose,
    and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
After it his voice roars;
    he thunders with his majestic voice,
    and he does not restrain the lightnings[a] when his voice is heard.(B)
God thunders wondrously with his voice;
    he does great things that we cannot comprehend.(C)
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’;
    and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain,(D)
serves as a sign on everyone’s hand,
    so that all whom he has made may know it.[b](E)
Then the animals go into their lairs
    and remain in their dens.(F)
From its chamber comes the whirlwind
    and cold from the scattering winds.(G)
10 By the breath of God ice is given,
    and the broad waters are frozen fast.(H)
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
    the clouds scatter his lightning.(I)
12 They turn round and round by his guidance
    to accomplish all that he commands them
    on the face of the habitable world.(J)
13 Whether for correction or for his land
    or for love, he causes it to happen.(K)

14 “Hear this, O Job;
    stop and consider the wondrous works of God.(L)
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 of the clouds,
    the wondrous works of the one whose knowledge is perfect,(M)
17 you whose garments are hot
    when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, like him, spread out the skies,
    hard as a molten mirror?(N)
19 Teach us what we shall say to him;
    we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Did anyone ever wish to be swallowed up?
21 Now, no one can look 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;
    around God is awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty[c]—we cannot find him;
    he is great in power and justice,
    and abundant righteousness he will not violate.(O)
24 Therefore mortals fear him;
    he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”(P)

Footnotes

  1. 37.4 Heb them
  2. 37.7 Meaning of Heb of 37.7 uncertain
  3. 37.23 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai