Add parallel Print Page Options

Elihu Keeps On Talking

37 “At this my heart shakes with fear and jumps from its place. Listen to the thunder of His voice and the noise that comes from His mouth. He lets it loose under the whole heaven. He lets His lightning go to the ends of the earth. His voice sounds after it. He thunders with His great and powerful voice. And He does not hold back the lightning when His voice is heard. God thunders with His great voice. He does great things which we cannot understand. For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain, ‘Be strong.’ He stops the work of every man, that all men may know His work. Then the wild animals go to their holes, and stay where they live. The storm comes from the south, and the cold from the north. 10 Water becomes ice by the breath of God. The wide waters become ice. 11 He loads the heavy clouds with water and they send out His lightning. 12 It changes its path and turns around by His leading, doing whatever He tells it to do on the earth where people live. 13 He causes it to happen for punishment, or for His world, or because of His love.

14 “Hear this, O Job. Stop and think about the great works of God. 15 Do you know how God does them, and makes the lightning shine from His cloud? 16 Do you know how the clouds are set in heaven, the great works of Him Who is perfect in understanding? 17 Do you know why you are hot in your clothes when the land becomes quiet because of the south wind? 18 Can you help Him spread out the sky, making it as hard as a mirror made from heated brass? 19 Teach us what we should say to Him. We cannot put words together to help us because of darkness. 20 Should He be told that I want to speak? Did a man ever wish to be swallowed up?

21 “Now men cannot look on the light when it is bright in the sky, when the wind has passed and made it clear. 22 A bright gold light is seen in the north. Around God is great power. 23 We cannot come near the All-powerful. He is lifted high with power. And He is right and fair and good and will not make it hard for us. 24 So men honor Him with fear. He has respect for any who are wise in heart.”

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.