Job 37
Living Bible
37 “My heart trembles at this. 2 Listen, listen to the thunder of his voice. 3 It rolls across the heavens and his lightning flashes out in every direction. 4 Afterwards comes the roaring of the thunder—the tremendous voice of his majesty. 5 His voice is glorious in the thunder. We cannot comprehend the greatness of his power. 6 For he directs the snow, the showers, and storm to fall upon the earth. 7 Man’s work stops at such a time so that all men everywhere may recognize his power. 8 The wild animals hide in the rocks or in their dens.
9 “From the south comes the rain; from the north, the cold. 10 God blows upon the rivers, and even the widest torrents freeze. 11 He loads the clouds with moisture, and they send forth his lightning. 12 The lightning bolts are directed by his hand and do whatever he commands throughout the earth. 13 He sends the storms[a] as punishment or, in his loving-kindness, to encourage.
14 “Listen, O Job, stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God. 15 Do you know how God controls all nature and causes the lightning to flash forth from the clouds? 16-17 Do you understand the balancing of the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill? Do you know why you become warm when the south wind is blowing and everything is still? 18 Can you spread out the gigantic mirror of the skies as he does?
19-20 “You who think you know so much,[b] teach the rest of us how we should approach God. For we are too dull to know! With your wisdom, would we then dare to approach him? Well, does a man wish to be swallowed alive? 21 For as we cannot look at the sun for its brightness when the winds have cleared away the clouds, 22 neither can we gaze at the terrible majesty of God breaking forth upon us from heaven, clothed in dazzling splendor. 23 We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty, and yet he is so just and merciful that he does not destroy us. 24 No wonder men everywhere fear him! For he is not impressed by the world’s wisest men!”
Job 37
Louis Segond
37 Mon coeur est tout tremblant, Il bondit hors de sa place.
2 Écoutez, écoutez le frémissement de sa voix, Le grondement qui sort de sa bouche!
3 Il le fait rouler dans toute l'étendue des cieux, Et son éclair brille jusqu'aux extrémités de la terre.
4 Puis éclate un rugissement: il tonne de sa voix majestueuse; Il ne retient plus l'éclair, dès que sa voix retentit.
5 Dieu tonne avec sa voix d'une manière merveilleuse; Il fait de grandes choses que nous ne comprenons pas.
6 Il dit à la neige: Tombe sur la terre! Il le dit à la pluie, même aux plus fortes pluies.
7 Il met un sceau sur la main de tous les hommes, Afin que tous se reconnaissent comme ses créatures.
8 L'animal sauvage se retire dans une caverne, Et se couche dans sa tanière.
9 L'ouragan vient du midi, Et le froid, des vents du nord.
10 Par son souffle Dieu produit la glace, Il réduit l'espace où se répandaient les eaux.
11 Il charge de vapeurs les nuages, Il les disperse étincelants;
12 Leurs évolutions varient selon ses desseins, Pour l'accomplissement de tout ce qu'il leur ordonne, Sur la face de la terre habitée;
13 C'est comme une verge dont il frappe sa terre, Ou comme un signe de son amour, qu'il les fait apparaître.
14 Job, sois attentif à ces choses! Considère encore les merveilles de Dieu!
15 Sais-tu comment Dieu les dirige, Et fait briller son nuage étincelant?
16 Comprends-tu le balancement des nuées, Les merveilles de celui dont la science est parfaite?
17 Sais-tu pourquoi tes vêtements sont chauds Quand la terre se repose par le vent du midi?
18 Peux-tu comme lui étendre les cieux, Aussi solides qu'un miroir de fonte?
19 Fais-nous connaître ce que nous devons lui dire; Nous sommes trop ignorants pour nous adresser à lui.
20 Lui annoncera-t-on que je parlerai? Mais quel est l'homme qui désire sa perte?
21 On ne peut fixer le soleil qui resplendit dans les cieux, Lorsqu'un vent passe et en ramène la pureté;
22 Le septentrion le rend éclatant comme l'or. Oh! que la majesté de Dieu est redoutable!
23 Nous ne saurions parvenir jusqu'au Tout Puissant, Grand par la force, Par la justice, par le droit souverain: Il ne répond pas!
24 C'est pourquoi les hommes doivent le craindre; Il ne porte les regards sur aucun sage.
Job 37
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 37
1 “This also causes my heart to tremble
and to leap out of its place.
2 Listen to the thunder of God’s voice
and the rumbling that comes forth from his mouth.
3 He sends it forth across the heavens,
along with his lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 Following this, there comes a roaring sound,
as God thunders with his majestic voice,
and he does not restrain his flashes of lightning
when his voice is heard.
5 “At God’s command marvels come to pass;
he performs wonders beyond our ability to comprehend.
6 For he says to the snow, ‘Fall upon the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Turn into a heavy downpour.’
7 All human activity comes to a standstill
so that everyone may acknowledge his power.
8 Wild beasts return to their lairs
and take shelter in their dens.
9 “The tempest comes out of its chamber,
and the north winds bring bitter cold.
10 By the breath of God[a] ice is formed
and the surface of the waters becomes frozen.
11 He weighs down the thick clouds with moisture,
and they scatter his lightning.
12 Following his command they blow about
over the face of the entire earth
to do whatever he directs.
13 Whether for correction of his people or for love,
he causes all this to happen.
Reflect Upon the Marvelous Works of God
14 “Listen to my words, O Job;
stop and reflect upon the marvelous works of God.
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds,
or how he makes his lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced,
the wondrous work of the one who is perfect in knowledge?
17 You who swelter in your stifling garments
when the earth lies still under the south wind,
18 can you, like him, spread out the skies,
hard as a mirror of cast metal?[b]
19 “Teach us, then, what we should say to him;
because of ignorance, we cannot present our case.
20 Do my words have any effect on him?
Is he informed of any man’s commands?
21 Sometimes the light vanishes,
and the sky is overcast with clouds;
then the wind comes and sweeps them away.
22 [c]“Out of the north golden splendor comes forth,
and God is surrounded by awesome majesty.
23 But the Almighty we cannot find;
he is unequaled in power and judgment,
and in his righteousness he will not violate justice.
24 Therefore, men revere him,
and all thoughtful men fear him.”
Footnotes
- Job 37:10 Breath of God: i.e., the wind.
- Job 37:18 Hard as a mirror of cast metal: see Deut 28:23 where this type of sky symbolizes unrelieved heat.
- Job 37:22 Elihu describes the advent of God, emphasizing both his power and his justice (see also Ps 48:3). He thus prepares Job for the appearance of God in the storm (chs. 38–41).
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
