Add parallel Print Page Options

27 For (A)He draws up the drops of water,
They distill rain for His [a]stream,
28 Which the clouds pour down,
They drip upon man abundantly.
29 Can anyone discern the (B)spreading of the clouds,
The (C)thundering of His [b]pavilion?
30 Behold, He spreads His [c]lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by these He (D)judges peoples;
He (E)gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the [d]lightning,
And (F)commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its (G)thundering declares about Him;
The cattle also, concerning what is coming up.

Elihu Speaks of God’s Voice

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

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:27 Or mist
  2. Job 36:29 Lit booth
  3. Job 36:30 Lit light
  4. Job 36:32 Lit light
  5. Job 37:2 Or Persist in listening
  6. Job 37:3 Lit light
  7. Job 37:4 Lit them
  8. Job 37:8 Lit dens
  9. Job 37:9 Lit chamber
  10. Job 37:9 Lit scattering winds
  11. Job 37:11 Lit light
  12. Job 37:12 Lit they
  13. Job 37:12 Lit them
  14. Job 37:13 Lit the rod
  15. Job 37:13 Lit be found

27 He draws up drops of water,
    distilling it to rain and mist.[a]
28 When the clouds pour down;[b]
    they drop their rain on all of humanity.

29 “Furthermore, can anyone understand cloud patterns,
    or the thundering in his pavilion?
30 He scatters his lightning above it,
    and covers the bottom[c] of the sea.
31 He uses them to judge some people
    and give food to many.
32 His hands are covered with lightning
    that he commands to strike his designated target.
33 His thunder[d] declares his presence;
    and tells the animals what is coming.”

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!
Listen carefully to his thundering voice;
    to the sound that rumbles from his mouth.
He releases his lightning throughout the sky,
    to the ends[e] of the earth.
His thunder roars after it;
    his majestic voice will thunder;
and no one can trace them[f]
    once his voice has been heard.

“God thunders with his wondrous voice;
    he does awesome works that we don’t comprehend.
For he says to the snow, ‘Fall to the earth.’
    He tells the rain, ‘Pour down,’
        then it rains profusely.

“He puts a limit to the skill[g] of every person;
    to delineate all people from what they do.

“Then a beast enters its lair
    and remains in its den.

“From the south,[h] 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.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:27 Or distilling rain into mist
  2. Job 36:28 Or drops
  3. Job 36:30 Or root
  4. Job 36:33 Lit. shout
  5. Job 37:3 Lit. wingtips
  6. Job 37:4 Lit. follow at the heel of their feet
  7. Job 37:7 Lit. a seal on the hand
  8. Job 37:9 Or From a storeroom