1‘At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.2Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.3He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.4After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.5God’s voice thunders in marvellous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.6He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth,” and to the rain shower, “Be a mighty downpour.”7So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labour.[1]8The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.9The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.10The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.11He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.12At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.13He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.14‘Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.15Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?16Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?17You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,18can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?19‘Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.20Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?21Now no-one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.22Out of the north he comes in golden splendour; God comes in awesome majesty.23The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.24Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?[2]’
Job 37
English Standard Version
Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty
1“At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place.2Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.3Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth. (Job 36:30; Job 36:32; Job 38:13; Isa 11:12; Eze 7:2)4After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings[1] when his voice is heard. (Job 40:9; Ps 18:13; Ps 29:3; Ps 68:33)5God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. (Job 5:9; Job 36:26)6For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. (Ps 147:16)7He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it. (Job 14:17; Ps 109:27; Da 12:9)8Then the beasts go into their lairs, and remain in their dens. (Job 38:40; Ps 104:22)9From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds. (Job 1:19; Job 9:9; Ps 147:17; Isa 21:1)10By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. (Job 36:16; Job 38:29; Ps 147:17)11He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning.12They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. (Ge 3:24; Ps 148:8; Pr 8:31)13Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen. (Ex 9:18; Ex 9:23; 1Sa 12:18; 1Ki 18:45; Ezr 10:9; Job 36:31; Job 38:22; Job 38:26)14“Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God. (Ps 111:2)15Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?16Do you know the balancings[2] of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge, (1Sa 2:3; Job 36:4)17you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind?18Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror? (Ge 1:6; Ex 38:8; Isa 42:5; Isa 44:24)19Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness. (Isa 60:2; Eph 4:18)20Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?21“And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them.22Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty. (Ps 104:1)23The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. (Job 36:5; Ps 99:4; La 3:33; 1Ti 6:16)24Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”[3] (Ps 130:4; Isa 5:21; Mt 10:28; Mt 11:25; 1Co 1:26)