Job 37

Elihu Speaks of God’s Voice

1 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 “ ^{▼▼Or Persist in listening}Listen closely to the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
3 “Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His ^{▼▼Lit light}lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 “After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain ^{▼▼Lit them}the lightnings when His voice is heard.
5 “God thunders with His voice marvelously,
Doing great things which we do not know.
6 “For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the downpour of rain and the downpour of rains, ‘Be strong.’
7 “He seals the hand of every man,
That all men may know His work.
8 “Then the beast goes into its lair
And dwells in its ^{▼▼Lit dens}den.
9 “Out of the ^{▼▼Lit chamber}south comes the storm,
And out of the ^{▼▼Lit scattering winds}north the cold.
10 “From the breath of God ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 “Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud;
He scatters the cloud of His ^{▼▼Lit light}lightning.
12 “It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That ^{▼▼Lit they}it may do whatever He commands ^{▼▼Lit them}it
On the face of the inhabited earth.
13 “Whether for ^{▼▼Lit the rod}correction, or for His world,
Or for lovingkindness, He causes it to ^{▼▼Lit be found}happen.
14 “Give ear to this, O Job,
Stand and carefully consider the wondrous deeds of God.
15 “Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the ^{▼▼Lit light}lightning of His cloud to shine?
16 “Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds,
The wonders of one ^{▼▼Or blameless}perfect in knowledge,
17 You whose garments are hot,
When the land is quiet because of the south wind?
18 “Can you, with Him, spread out the skies,
Strong as a molten mirror?
19 “Make us know what we shall say to Him;
We cannot arrange our case because of darkness.
20 “Shall it be recounted to Him that I would speak?
^{▼▼ Or If a man speaks, surely he shall be swallowed up}If a man says a word, will He indeed be swallowed up?
21 “So now ^{▼▼Lit they}men do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 “Out of the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is fearsome majesty.
23 “The Almighty—we cannot find Him;
He is exalted in power
And He will not afflict justice and abundant righteousness.
24 “Therefore men fear Him;
He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”