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27 “He ·evaporates [or holds in check] the drops of water from the earth
    and ·turns them into rain [filters rain for his streams/or mists; Gen. 2:6].
28 The rain then pours down from the clouds,
    and ·showers fall [L drops abundantly] on people.
29 ·No one understands [L Who can understand…?] ·how God spreads out the [L the spreading] clouds
    or how he sends thunder from ·where he lives [L his booth/pavilion].
30 Watch how God ·scatters [spreads] his lightning around him,
    ·lighting up the deepest parts [L covering the roots] of the sea.
31 This is the way God ·governs [or sustains] the nations;
    this is how he gives us ·enough [plenty; abundant] food.
32 God ·fills [L covers] his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its target.
33 His thunder announces ·the coming storm [L about him/it; C thunder announces either the coming storm or the coming of God],
    and ·even the cattle know it is near [or the storm announces his coming wrath; or the passion of his anger is against inquity].

37 “At ·the sound of his thunder [L this], my heart ·pounds [trembles]
    as if it will ·jump [leap; or drop] out of ·my chest [L its place].
Listen! Listen to the ·thunder [L shaking] of God’s voice
    and to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
He turns his lightning loose under the whole ·sky [heavens]
    and sends it to the farthest parts of the earth.
After that you can hear the roar
    when he thunders with a ·great sound [exalted voice].
He does not hold back the flashing
    when his voice is heard.
God’s voice thunders in wonderful ways;
    he does great things we cannot understand.
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the shower, ‘Be a heavy rain.’
With it, he ·stops everyone from working [L puts a seal on the hand of all people]
    so everyone knows it is ·the work of God [L his work].
The animals ·take cover from the rain [L enter their hiding place/lair]
    and stay in their dens.
The storm comes from ·where it was stored [L its chamber];
    the cold comes with the ·strong winds [or north wind].
10 The breath of God makes ice,
    and the wide waters become frozen.
11 He ·fills [loads] the clouds with ·water [moisture]
    and scatters his lightning through them.
12 At his ·command [L guidance] they swirl around
    over the ·whole [L inhabited] earth,
    doing whatever he commands.
13 ·He uses the clouds to punish people [L Whether for correction/the rod]
    or ·to water his [L for the] earth and ·show his love [or loyalty].

27 For (A)He draws up the drops of water;
They distill rain from its [a]celestial stream,
28 Which clouds pour down;
They drip upon mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand 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 them 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 target.
33 Its (G)thundering voice declares [e]His presence;
The livestock also, concerning what is coming up.

Elihu Says God Has Authority Over the Storm

37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
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 travels 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 lightning when His voice is heard.
God (J)thunders wondrously with His voice,
Doing (K)great things which we do not comprehend.
For to (L)the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the [h](M)downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
He (N)seals the hand of every person,
So that (O)all people may know His work.
Then the animal goes into its (P)lair
And remains in its [i]den.
From the [j](Q)south comes the storm,
And from the north wind the cold.
10 From the breath of God (R)ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 He also (S)loads the clouds with moisture;
He (T)disperses (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 earth,
Or for (Z)goodness, 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 36:33 Lit concerning Him
  6. Job 37:3 Lit light
  7. Job 37:4 Lit them
  8. Job 37:6 Lit shower of rain and shower of rains
  9. Job 37:8 Lit dens
  10. Job 37:9 Lit chamber
  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