37 “At this my heart pounds(A)
    and leaps from its place.
Listen!(B) Listen to the roar of his voice,(C)
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(D)
He unleashes his lightning(E) beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.(F)
After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders(G) with his majestic voice.(H)
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
God’s voice thunders(I) in marvelous ways;(J)
    he does great things beyond our understanding.(K)
He says to the snow,(L) ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(M)
So that everyone he has made may know his work,(N)
    he stops all people from their labor.[a](O)
The animals take cover;(P)
    they remain in their dens.(Q)
The tempest comes out from its chamber,(R)
    the cold from the driving winds.(S)
10 The breath of God produces ice,
    and the broad waters become frozen.(T)
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;(U)
    he scatters his lightning(V) through them.(W)
12 At his direction they swirl around
    over the face of the whole earth
    to do whatever he commands them.(X)
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,(Y)
    or to water his earth and show his love.(Z)

14 “Listen(AA) to this, Job;
    stop and consider God’s wonders.(AB)
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
    and makes his lightning(AC) flash?(AD)
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,(AE)
    those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?(AF)
17 You who swelter in your clothes
    when the land lies hushed under the south wind,(AG)
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,(AH)
    hard as a mirror of cast bronze?(AI)

19 “Tell us what we should say to him;(AJ)
    we cannot draw up our case(AK) because of our darkness.(AL)
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,(AM)
    bright as it is in the skies
    after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;(AN)
    God comes in awesome majesty.(AO)
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;(AP)
    in his justice(AQ) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.(AR)
24 Therefore, people revere him,(AS)
    for does he not have regard for all the wise(AT) in heart?[b]

The Lord Speaks

38 Then the Lord spoke to Job(AU) out of the storm.(AV) He said:

“Who is this that obscures my plans(AW)
    with words without knowledge?(AX)
Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.(AY)

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?(AZ)
    Tell me, if you understand.(BA)
Who marked off its dimensions?(BB) Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line(BC) across it?
On what were its footings set,(BD)
    or who laid its cornerstone(BE)
while the morning stars(BF) sang together(BG)
    and all the angels[c](BH) shouted for joy?(BI)

“Who shut up the sea behind doors(BJ)
    when it burst forth from the womb,(BK)
when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,(BL)
10 when I fixed limits for it(BM)
    and set its doors and bars in place,(BN)
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;(BO)
    here is where your proud waves halt’?(BP)

12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,(BQ)
    or shown the dawn its place,(BR)
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
    and shake the wicked(BS) out of it?(BT)
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;(BU)
    its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,(BV)
    and their upraised arm is broken.(BW)

16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?(BX)
17 Have the gates of death(BY) been shown to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?(BZ)
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?(CA)
    Tell me, if you know all this.(CB)

19 “What is the way to the abode of light?
    And where does darkness reside?(CC)
20 Can you take them to their places?
    Do you know the paths(CD) to their dwellings?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born!(CE)
    You have lived so many years!

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow(CF)
    or seen the storehouses(CG) of the hail,(CH)
23 which I reserve for times of trouble,(CI)
    for days of war and battle?(CJ)
24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,(CK)
    or the place where the east winds(CL) are scattered over the earth?(CM)
25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
    and a path for the thunderstorm,(CN)
26 to water(CO) a land where no one lives,
    an uninhabited desert,(CP)
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
    and make it sprout with grass?(CQ)
28 Does the rain have a father?(CR)
    Who fathers the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
    Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens(CS)
30 when the waters become hard as stone,
    when the surface of the deep is frozen?(CT)

31 “Can you bind the chains[d] of the Pleiades?
    Can you loosen Orion’s belt?(CU)
32 Can you bring forth the constellations(CV) in their seasons[e]
    or lead out the Bear[f] with its cubs?(CW)
33 Do you know the laws(CX) of the heavens?(CY)
    Can you set up God’s[g] dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
    and cover yourself with a flood of water?(CZ)
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?(DA)
    Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who gives the ibis wisdom[h](DB)
    or gives the rooster understanding?[i](DC)
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
    Who can tip over the water jars(DD) of the heavens(DE)
38 when the dust becomes hard(DF)
    and the clods of earth stick together?(DG)

39 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
    and satisfy the hunger of the lions(DH)
40 when they crouch in their dens(DI)
    or lie in wait in a thicket?(DJ)
41 Who provides food(DK) for the raven(DL)
    when its young cry out to God
    and wander about for lack of food?(DM)

39 “Do you know when the mountain goats(DN) give birth?
    Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?(DO)
Do you count the months till they bear?
    Do you know the time they give birth?(DP)
They crouch down and bring forth their young;
    their labor pains are ended.
Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds;
    they leave and do not return.

“Who let the wild donkey(DQ) go free?
    Who untied its ropes?
I gave it the wasteland(DR) as its home,
    the salt flats(DS) as its habitat.(DT)
It laughs(DU) at the commotion in the town;
    it does not hear a driver’s shout.(DV)
It ranges the hills(DW) for its pasture
    and searches for any green thing.

“Will the wild ox(DX) consent to serve you?(DY)
    Will it stay by your manger(DZ) at night?
10 Can you hold it to the furrow with a harness?(EA)
    Will it till the valleys behind you?
11 Will you rely on it for its great strength?(EB)
    Will you leave your heavy work to it?
12 Can you trust it to haul in your grain
    and bring it to your threshing floor?

13 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
    though they cannot compare
    with the wings and feathers of the stork.(EC)
14 She lays her eggs on the ground
    and lets them warm in the sand,
15 unmindful that a foot may crush them,
    that some wild animal may trample them.(ED)
16 She treats her young harshly,(EE) as if they were not hers;
    she cares not that her labor was in vain,
17 for God did not endow her with wisdom
    or give her a share of good sense.(EF)
18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run,
    she laughs(EG) at horse and rider.

19 “Do you give the horse its strength(EH)
    or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?
20 Do you make it leap like a locust,(EI)
    striking terror(EJ) with its proud snorting?(EK)
21 It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength,(EL)
    and charges into the fray.(EM)
22 It laughs(EN) at fear, afraid of nothing;
    it does not shy away from the sword.
23 The quiver(EO) rattles against its side,
    along with the flashing spear(EP) and lance.
24 In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;
    it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.(EQ)
25 At the blast of the trumpet(ER) it snorts, ‘Aha!’
    It catches the scent of battle from afar,
    the shout of commanders and the battle cry.(ES)

26 “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom
    and spread its wings toward the south?(ET)
27 Does the eagle soar at your command
    and build its nest on high?(EU)
28 It dwells on a cliff and stays there at night;
    a rocky crag(EV) is its stronghold.
29 From there it looks for food;(EW)
    its eyes detect it from afar.
30 Its young ones feast on blood,
    and where the slain are, there it is.”(EX)

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
  2. Job 37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.
  3. Job 38:7 Hebrew the sons of God
  4. Job 38:31 Septuagint; Hebrew beauty
  5. Job 38:32 Or the morning star in its season
  6. Job 38:32 Or out Leo
  7. Job 38:33 Or their
  8. Job 38:36 That is, wisdom about the flooding of the Nile
  9. Job 38:36 That is, understanding of when to crow; the meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is 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.

38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?

36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

39 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.

Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.

Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.

He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.

The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.

Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in vain without fear;

17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?

20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.

21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.

23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?

27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[a](A) Since we have that same spirit of[b] faith,(B) we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead(C) will also raise us with Jesus(D) and present us with you to himself.(E) 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving(F) to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart.(G) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly(H) we are being renewed(I) day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.(J) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,(K) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Awaiting the New Body

For we know that if the earthly(L) tent(M) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan,(N) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(O) because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan(P) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(Q) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(R)

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.(S) We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.(T) So we make it our goal to please him,(U) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us(V) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

But now you have rejected(A) and humbled us;(B)
    you no longer go out with our armies.(C)
10 You made us retreat(D) before the enemy,
    and our adversaries have plundered(E) us.
11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep(F)
    and have scattered us among the nations.(G)
12 You sold your people for a pittance,(H)
    gaining nothing from their sale.

13 You have made us a reproach(I) to our neighbors,(J)
    the scorn(K) and derision(L) of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword(M) among the nations;
    the peoples shake their heads(N) at us.
15 I live in disgrace(O) all day long,
    and my face is covered with shame(P)
16 at the taunts(Q) of those who reproach and revile(R) me,
    because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.(S)

17 All this came upon us,
    though we had not forgotten(T) you;
    we had not been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not turned(U) back;
    our feet had not strayed from your path.
19 But you crushed(V) us and made us a haunt for jackals;(W)
    you covered us over with deep darkness.(X)

20 If we had forgotten(Y) the name of our God
    or spread out our hands to a foreign god,(Z)
21 would not God have discovered it,
    since he knows the secrets of the heart?(AA)
22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep(AB) to be slaughtered.(AC)

23 Awake,(AD) Lord! Why do you sleep?(AE)
    Rouse yourself!(AF) Do not reject us forever.(AG)
24 Why do you hide your face(AH)
    and forget(AI) our misery and oppression?(AJ)

25 We are brought down to the dust;(AK)
    our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up(AL) and help us;
    rescue(AM) us because of your unfailing love.(AN)

Read full chapter

But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.

10 Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.

11 Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

12 Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.

13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.

14 Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.

15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,

16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.

17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;

19 Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;

21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.

24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.

26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

Read full chapter

13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!(A)
    I’ll be killed in the public square!”

Read full chapter

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

Read full chapter