God’s Works and Wisdom

37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
He sends it forth under the whole heaven,
His [a]lightning to the ends of the earth.
After it (A)a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
God thunders marvelously with His voice;
(B)He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
For (C)He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the [b]gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
He seals the hand of every man,
(D)That (E)all men may know His work.
The beasts (F)go into dens,
And remain in their lairs.
From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,
And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 (G)By the breath of God ice is given,
And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
He scatters His [c]bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
That they may (H)do whatever He commands them
On the face of [d]the whole earth.
13 (I)He causes it to come,
Whether for [e]correction,
Or (J)for His land,
Or (K)for mercy.

14 “Listen to this, O Job;
Stand still and (L)consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God [f]dispatches them,
And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 (M)Do you know how the clouds are balanced,
Those wondrous works of (N)Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 Why are your garments hot,
When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 With Him, have you (O)spread out the (P)skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?

19 “Teach us what we should say to Him,
For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak?
If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies,
When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 He comes from the north as golden splendor;
With God is awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, (Q)we cannot find Him;
(R)He is excellent in power,
In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress.
24 Therefore men (S)fear Him;
He shows no partiality to any who are (T)wise of heart.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:3 Or light
  2. Job 37:6 Lit. shower of rain
  3. Job 37:11 clouds of light
  4. Job 37:12 Lit. the world of the earth
  5. Job 37:13 Lit. a rod
  6. Job 37:15 places them

37 Yea, at this my heart trembleth,
And is moved out of its place.
Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice,
And the [a]sound that goeth out of his mouth.
He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven,
And his [b]lightning unto the [c]ends of the earth.
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.
God thundereth marvellously with his voice;
Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
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.
He sealeth up the hand of every man,
That all men whom he hath made may know it.
Then the beasts go into coverts,
And remain in their dens.
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

  1. Job 37:2 Or, muttering
  2. Job 37:3 Hebrew light.
  3. Job 37:3 Hebrew skirts.
  4. Job 37:4 Hebrew them.
  5. Job 37:9 Hebrew scattering winds.
  6. Job 37:10 Or, congealed
  7. Job 37:11 Hebrew light.
  8. Job 37:13 Or, earth
  9. Job 37:15 Hebrew light.
  10. Job 37:17 Or, Thou whose garments are etc.
  11. Job 37:17 Or, When he quieteth the earth by the south wind
  12. Job 37:20 Or, If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up
  13. Job 37:21 Or, cannot look on the light when it is bright in the skies, When the wind hath passed, and cleared them
  14. Job 37:22 Hebrew gold.
  15. Job 37:23 Or, to justice . . . he doeth no violence