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Elihu Continues: God’s Ways Are Beyond Human Understanding

37 “My heart pounds because of this
    and jumps out of its place.
Listen! Listen to the roar of God’s voice,
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
        He flashes his lightning everywhere under heaven.
        His light flashes to the ends of the earth.
        It is followed by the roar of his voice.
        He thunders with his majestic voice.
        He doesn’t hold the lightning back when his thunder is heard.
        El’s voice thunders in miraculous ways.
        It does great things that we cannot understand.

“He says to the snow, ‘Fall to the ground,’
    and to the pouring rain, ‘Rain harder!’
He makes it impossible to do anything[a]
    so that people will recognize his work.
        Animals go into their dens
            and stay in their lairs.
        A storm comes out of its chamber.
            It is cold because of the strong winds.[b]
10 El’s breath produces ice,
    and the seas freeze over.
11 Yes, he loads the thick clouds with moisture
    and scatters his lightning from the clouds.
12 He guides the clouds as they churn round and round
    over the face of the inhabited earth
        to do everything he orders them.
13 Whether for discipline,
    or for the good of his earth,
        or out of mercy,
            he makes the storm appear.

14 “Open your ears to this, Job.
    Stop and consider El’s miracles.
15 Do you know how Eloah controls them
    and makes the lightning flash from his clouds?
16 Do you know how the clouds drift
    (these are the miracles of the one who knows everything),
17 you whose clothes are hot and sweaty,
    when the earth is calm under a south wind?
18 Can you stretch out the skies with him
    and make them as firm as a mirror made of metal?
19 Teach us what we should say to him.
    We are unable to prepare a case because of darkness.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Can a person speak when he is confused?
21 People can’t look at the sun
    when it’s bright among the clouds
        or after the wind has blown and cleared those clouds away.
22 A golden light comes from the north.
    A terrifying majesty is around Eloah.
23 Shadday, whom we can’t reach,
    is great in power and judgment,
        has more than enough righteousness,
            and does not oppress.
24 That is why people should fear him.
    He does not respect those who think they’re wise.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:7 Or “He seals up every person’s hand.”
  2. Job 37:9 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

37 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them 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, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

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