37 1 Elihu proveth that the unsearchable wisdom of God is manifest by his works. 4 As by the thunders. 6 The snow. 9 The whirlwind. 11 And the rain.

At this also mine heart is [a]astonied, and is moved out of his place.

Hear the [b]sound of his voice, and the noise that goeth out of his mouth.

He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his light unto the ends of the world.

After it a noise soundeth: he thundereth with the voice of his majesty, and he will not stay [c]them when his voice is heard.

God thundereth marvelously with his voice: he worketh great things, which we know not.

For he saith to the snow, Be thou upon the earth [d]likewise to the small rain and to the great rain of his power.

With the force thereof he [e]shutteth up every man, that all men may know his work.

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

The whirlwind cometh out of the South, and the cold from the [f]North wind.

10 At the breath of God the frost is given, and the breadth of the waters [g]is made narrow.

11 He maketh also the clouds to [h]labor, to water the earth, and scattereth the cloud of [i]his light.

12 And it is turned about by his government, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the whole world:

13 Whether it be for [j]punishment, or for his land, or of mercy, he causeth it to come.

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

15 Didst thou know when God disposed them? and caused the [k]light of his cloud to shine?

16 Hast thou known the [l]variety of the cloud, and the wondrous works of him that is perfect in knowledge?

17 Or how thy clothes are [m]warm, when he maketh the earth quiet through the South wind?

18 Hast thou stretched out the heavens, which are strong, and as a molten [n]glass?

19 Tell us what we shall say unto him: for we cannot dispose our matter because of [o]darkness.

20 Shall it be [p]told him when I speak? or shall man speak when he shall be [q]destroyed?

21 And now men see not the light, [r]which shineth in the clouds, but the wind passeth and cleanseth them.

22 The [s]brightness cometh out of the North: the praise thereof is to God, which is terrible.

23 It is the Almighty: we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power and judgment, and abundant in justice: he [t]afflicteth not.

24 Let men therefore fear him: for he will not regard any that are wise in their own conceit.

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:1 At the marvelling of the thunder and lightnings: whereby he declareth that the faithful are lively touched with the majesty of God, when they behold his works.
  2. Job 37:2 That is, the thunder, whereby he speaketh to men to waken their dullness, and to bring them to the consideration of his works.
  3. Job 37:4 Meaning, the rains and thunders.
  4. Job 37:6 So that neither small rain, nor great, snow nor anything else cometh without God’s appointment.
  5. Job 37:7 By rains and thunders God causeth men to keep themselves within their houses.
  6. Job 37:9 In Hebrew it is called the scattering wind, because it driveth away the clouds and purgeth the air.
  7. Job 37:10 That is, is frozen up and dried.
  8. Job 37:11 Gather the vapors and move to and fro to water the earth.
  9. Job 37:11 That is, the cloud that hath lightning in it.
  10. Job 37:13 Rain, cold, heat, tempests and such like are sent of God, either to punish man, or to profit the earth, or to declare his favor toward man, as Job 36:31.
  11. Job 37:15 That is, the lightning to break forth in the clouds?
  12. Job 37:16 Which is sometimes changed into rain, or snow, hail, or such like.
  13. Job 37:17 Why thy clothes should keep thee warm when the South wind bloweth, rather than when any other wind bloweth?
  14. Job 37:18 For their clearness.
  15. Job 37:19 That is, our ignorance: signifying that Job was so presumptuous, that he would control the works of God.
  16. Job 37:20 Hath God need that any should tell him when man murmureth against him?
  17. Job 37:20 If God would destroy a man, should he repine?
  18. Job 37:21 The cloud stoppeth the shining of the sun, that man cannot see it till the wind have chased away the cloud: and if man be not able to attain to the knowledge of these things, how much less of God’s judgments?
  19. Job 37:22 In Hebrew, gold, meaning, fair weather and clear as gold.
  20. Job 37:23 Meaning, without cause.

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]

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.