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27 For he draws up the drops of water;
    he distills[a] his mist in rain,(A)
28 which the skies pour down
    and drop upon mortals abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
    the thunderings of his pavilion?(B)
30 See, he scatters his lightning around him
    and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by these he governs peoples;
    he gives food in abundance.(C)
32 He covers his hands with the lightning
    and commands it to strike the mark.(D)
33 Its crashing[b] tells about him;
    he is jealous[c] with anger against iniquity.(E)

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.(F)
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[d] when his voice is heard.(G)
God thunders wondrously with his voice;
    he does great things that we cannot comprehend.(H)
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’;
    and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain,(I)
serves as a sign on everyone’s hand,
    so that all whom he has made may know it.[e](J)
Then the animals go into their lairs
    and remain in their dens.(K)
From its chamber comes the whirlwind
    and cold from the scattering winds.(L)
10 By the breath of God ice is given,
    and the broad waters are frozen fast.(M)
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
    the clouds scatter his lightning.(N)
12 They turn round and round by his guidance
    to accomplish all that he commands them
    on the face of the habitable world.(O)
13 Whether for correction or for his land
    or for love, he causes it to happen.(P)

Footnotes

  1. 36.27 Cn: Heb they distill
  2. 36.33 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  3. 36.33 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  4. 37.4 Heb them
  5. 37.7 Meaning of Heb of 37.7 uncertain

27 Indeed, he draws up the drops of water;
he distills the rain into its mist,
28 which the clouds pour down;
they shower abundantly on human beings.
29 “Moreover, can anyone understand[a] the spreading of clouds,
the thundering of his dwelling place?
30 Look, he scatters his lightning around him,
and he covers the roots of the sea.
31 Indeed, he judges people by them;
he gives food in abundance.[b]
32 He covers his hands with lightning,
and he commands it the place at which to strike.
33 His thundering tells about him;
the livestock also tell concerning what rises.[c]

Elihu Extols God’s Majesty

37 “About this also my heart trembles,
and it leaps from its place.
Listen carefully to his voice’s thunder
and the rumbling that goes out from his mouth.
He lets it loose under all the heavens,
and his lightning to the earth’s corners.
After it, his voice roars;
it thunders with his majestic voice,[d]
and he does not restrain it when his voice is heard.
“God thunders with his voice in marvelous ways;
he does great things, and we cannot comprehend.
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’;
and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain[e]
he stops all human beings from working[f]
so that everyone whom he has made may know it.[g]
Then[h] the animal goes into its den,
and it remains in its den.
The storm wind comes from its chamber
and cold from the north wind.
10 By God’s breath, ice is given,
and the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also, he loads down thick clouds with moisture;
his lightning scatters the clouds.
12 And they[i] turn around by his guidance
to accomplish all that he has commanded them
on the face of the habitable world.[j]
13 Whether as correction[k] or for his land,
or as loyal love, he lets it happen.

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:29 Literally “if he can understand”
  2. Job 36:31 Literally “as far as providing in abundance”
  3. Job 36:33 Literally “about going up”
  4. Job 37:4 Literally “with the voice of his majesty”
  5. Job 37:6 Literally “the shower of rain and the show of rains of his strength”
  6. Job 37:7 Literally “on the hand of all man he seals”
  7. Job 37:7 Literally “to know all men of his work”
  8. Job 37:8 Hebrew “And”
  9. Job 37:12 Collective “clouds” in the first line takes the singular “it” here with the plural meaning
  10. Job 37:12 Literally “world of earth”
  11. Job 37:13 Literally “a rod”