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Job 37
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Job 37
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 37
1 At this my heart trembles
and leaps out of its place.
2 Listen to his angry voice[a]
and the rumble that comes forth from his mouth!
3 Everywhere under the heavens he sends it,
with his light, to the ends of the earth.
4 Again his voice roars,
his majestic voice thunders;
he does not restrain them when his voice is heard.
5 God thunders forth marvels with his voice;
he does great things beyond our knowing.
6 He says to the snow, “Fall to the earth”;
likewise to his heavy, drenching rain.
7 He shuts up all humankind indoors,
so that all people may know his work.
8 The wild beasts take to cover
and remain quiet in their dens.
9 Out of its chamber the tempest comes forth;
from the north winds, the cold.
10 With his breath God brings the frost,
and the broad waters congeal.(A)
11 The clouds too are laden with moisture,
the storm-cloud scatters its light.
12 [b]He it is who changes their rounds, according to his plans,
to do all that he commands them
across the inhabited world.
13 Whether for punishment or mercy,
he makes it happen.
14 Listen to this, Job!
Stand and consider the marvels of God!
15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them,
and makes the light shine forth from his clouds?
16 Do you know how the clouds are banked,
the marvels of him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 You, who swelter in your clothes
when calm lies over the land from the south,
18 Can you with him spread out the firmament of the skies,
hard as a molten mirror?[c]
19 Teach us then what we shall say to him;
we cannot, for the darkness, make our plea.
20 Will he be told about it when I speak?
Can anyone talk when he is being destroyed?
21 Rather, it is as the light that cannot be seen
while it is obscured by the clouds,
till the wind comes by and sweeps them away.[d]
22 From Zaphon[e] the golden splendor comes,
surrounding God’s awesome majesty!
23 The Almighty! We cannot find him,
preeminent in power and judgment,
abundant in justice, who never oppresses.
24 Therefore people fear him;
none can see him, however wise their hearts.[f]
Footnotes
- 37:2 Voice: the thunder.
- 37:12–13 The translation of these verses is uncertain.
- 37:18 The firmament…mirror: the ancients thought of the sky as a ceiling above which were the “upper waters” (cf. Gn 1:6–7; 7:11); when this ceiling became as hard as metal, the usual rain failed to fall on the earth (cf. Lv 26:19; Dt 28:23).
- 37:21 Elihu argues that even though God seems not to know our circumstances, he does know them, just as surely as the sun shines behind the clouds.
- 37:22 Zaphon: the mythical mountain of the gods; cf. note on 26:7.
- 37:24 The concluding remark of Elihu is ironic in view of the appearance of the Lord in the next chapter and Job’s claim in 42:5.
Job 37
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Job 37
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
37 “At this also my heart trembles,
and leaps out of its place.
2 Listen, listen to the thunder of his voice
and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven he lets it loose,
and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
4 After it his voice roars;
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 great things that we cannot comprehend.
6 For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’;
and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain,
7 serves as a sign on everyone’s hand,
so that all whom he has made may know it.[b]
8 Then the animals go into their lairs
and remain in their dens.
9 From its chamber comes the whirlwind,
and cold from the scattering winds.
10 By the breath of God ice is given,
and the broad waters are frozen fast.
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
the clouds scatter his lightning.
12 They turn round and round by his guidance,
to accomplish all that he commands them
on the face of the habitable world.
13 Whether for correction, or for his land,
or for love, he causes it to happen.
14 “Hear this, O Job;
stop and 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 of the clouds,
the wondrous works of the one whose knowledge is perfect,
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?
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.
24 Therefore mortals fear him;
he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”
Job 37
Common English Bible
Job 37
Common English Bible
37 Oh, my mind is disturbed by this
and is more troubled than usual.
2 Listen closely to the rumble of his voice,
the roar issuing from his mouth.
3 He looses it under the whole sky,
his lightning on earth’s edges.
4 After it, a voice roars;
he thunders with a mighty voice,
and no one can stop it
when his voice is heard.
5 God roars with his wondrous voice;
he does great things we can’t know.
6 He says to the snow, “Fall to earth,”
and to the downpour of rain, “Be a mighty shower.”
7 He stamps the hand of every person
so all can know his work.[a]
8 The wild beast enters its lair,
lies down in its den.
9 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.
Job 37
New American Standard Bible
Job 37
New American Standard Bible
Elihu Says God Has Authority Over the Storm
37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 Listen closely to the (A)thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His [a]lightning travels to the (B)ends of the earth.
4 After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain [b]the lightning when His voice is heard.
5 God (C)thunders wondrously with His voice,
Doing (D)great things which we do not comprehend.
6 For to (E)the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the [c](F)downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
7 He (G)seals the hand of every person,
So that (H)all people may know His work.
8 Then the animal goes into its (I)lair
And remains in its [d]den.
9 From the [e](J)south comes the storm,
And from the north wind the cold.
10 From the breath of God (K)ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 He also (L)loads the clouds with moisture;
He (M)disperses (N)the cloud of His [f]lightning.
12 It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That [g]it may do whatever He (O)commands [h]it
On the (P)face of the inhabited earth.
13 Whether for [i](Q)correction, or for (R)His earth,
Or for (S)goodness, He causes it to [j]happen.
14 “Listen to this, Job;
Stand and consider the wonders of God.
15 Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the [k]lightning of His clouds to shine?
16 Do you know about the hovering of the clouds,
The (T)wonders of One who is (U)perfect in knowledge,
17 You whose garments are hot
When the land is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, with Him, (V)spread out the skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 Teach us what we are to say to Him;
We (W)cannot present our case because of darkness.
20 Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
[l]Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
21 “Now people do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 From the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty—(X)we cannot find Him;
He is (Y)exalted in power
And (Z)He will not violate (AA)justice and abundant righteousness.
24 Therefore people (AB)fear Him;
He does not (AC)regard any who are wise of heart.”
Footnotes
- Job 37:3 Lit light
- Job 37:4 Lit them
- Job 37:6 Lit shower of rain and shower of rains
- Job 37:8 Lit dens
- Job 37:9 Lit chamber
- Job 37:11 Lit light
- Job 37:12 Lit they
- Job 37:12 Lit them
- Job 37:13 Lit the rod
- Job 37:13 Lit be found
- Job 37:15 Lit light
- Job 37:20 Or If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up
Job 37
New International Version
Job 37
New International Version
37 “At this my heart pounds(A)
and leaps from its place.
2 Listen!(B) Listen to the roar of his voice,(C)
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(D)
3 He unleashes his lightning(E) beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.(F)
4 After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders(G) with his majestic voice.(H)
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back.
5 God’s voice thunders(I) in marvelous ways;(J)
he does great things beyond our understanding.(K)
6 He says to the snow,(L) ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(M)
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,(N)
he stops all people from their labor.[a](O)
8 The animals take cover;(P)
they remain in their dens.(Q)
9 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]”
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
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Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
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