Job 37
1 At this also my heart is troubled, and moved out of its place.
“My heart pounds [DOU] when [I think about] that.
2 Hear thou a report by the anger of the Lord's wrath, and a discourse shall come out of his mouth.
Listen, all of you, to the thunder, which is like God’s voice [DOU].
3 His dominion is under the whole heaven, and his light is at the extremities of the earth.
He causes thunder to be heard all across the sky, and he causes lighting to flash to the most distant places on the earth.
4 After him shall be a cry with a [loud] voice; he shall thunder with the voice of his excellency, yet he shall not cause men to pass away, for one shall hear his voice.
After [the lightning flashes], we hear the thunder which is like [MET] God’s majestic voice; he does not restrain the lightning when he speaks.
5 The Mighty One shall thunder wonderfully with his voice: for he has done great things which we knew not;
When God speaks, it is awesome, like thunder; he does amazing things which we cannot [fully] understand.
6 commanding the snow, Be thou upon the earth, and the stormy rain, and the storm of the showers of his might.
He commands the snow to fall on the ground, and [sometimes] he causes it to rain very hard.
7 He seals up the hand of every man, that every man may know his own weakness.
And [when God does that, ] it prevents people [SYN] from working, in order that all people may know that he is the one who has done that (OR, what he can do).
8 And the wild beasts come in under the covert, and rest in [their] lair.
[When it rains, ] animals go into their hiding places, and they remain there [until the rain stops].
9 Troubles come on out of the secret chambers, and cold from the mountain-tops.
The storms/hurricanes come from the place [in the south where they start], and the cold wind comes from the north.
10 And from the breath of the Mighty One he will send frost; and he guides the water in whatever way he pleases.
[In the (winter/cold season), the cold north wind is like] God’s breath [that] causes [MET] water to freeze; he causes the lakes/streams to become ice.
11 And [if] a cloud obscures [what is] precious [to him], his light will disperse the cloud.
God fills the clouds with moisture/hail, and lightning flashes from the clouds.
12 And he will carry round the encircling [clouds] by his governance, to [perform] their works: whatsoever he shall command them,
He guides the clouds and causes them to move back and forth in order that they may accomplish all that he commands them to do, all over the world.
13 this has been appointed by him on the earth, whether for correction, [or] for his land, or if he shall find him [an object] for mercy.
Sometimes God sends rain to punish us, and sometimes he sends rain to show us that he acts kindly toward us.
14 Hearken to this, O Job: stand still, and be admonished of the power of the Lord.
“Job, listen to this; stop and think about the wonderful things that God does.
15 We know that god has disposed his works, having made light out of darkness.
(Do you know how God commands the lightning to flash down from the clouds?/We do not know how God commands the lightning to flash down from the clouds.) [RHQ]
16 And he knows the divisions of the clouds, and the signal overthrows of the ungodly.
Only God knows everything perfectly; so (do you know how he causes the clouds to (move/float) (amazingly/wonderfully) across the sky?/you certainly do not know how he causes the clouds to (move/float) (amazingly/wonderfully) across the sky!) [RHQ]
17 But thy robe is warm, and there is quiet upon the land.
No, you just sweat there in your clothes; [it is very oppressive] when the [hot] wind stops blowing from the south and [all the leaves on the trees] (become still/do not move).
18 Wilt thou establish with him [foundations] for the ancient [heavens? they are] strong as a molten mirror.
(Can you stretch out the skies like God does and make them as hard as [SIM] a sheet of polished brass?/You certainly cannot stretch out the skies like God does and make them as hard as [SIM] a sheet of polished brass!) [RHQ]
19 Wherefore teach me, what shall we say to him? and let us cease from saying much.
“Job, tell us(exc) what we should say to God; we do not know anything [IDM]. As a result, we do not know what to say to him to defend ourselves.
20 Have I a book or a scribe my me, that I may stand and put man to silence?
Should I tell God that I want to speak to him? No, because [if I did that, ] he might destroy me.
21 But the light is not visible to all: it shines afar off in the heavens, as that which is from him in the clouds.
Now, people cannot look [directly] at the sun when it shines brightly in the sky after the wind has blown the clouds away; [so, we certainly cannot look at the brightness of God].
22 From the [north] come the clouds shining like gold: in these great are the glory and honour of the Almighty;
God comes out of the north with a light [that shines like] gold; his glory causes us to be afraid.
23 and we do not find another his equal in strength: [as for] him that judges justly, dost thou not think that he listens?
Almighty God is very powerful, and we cannot come near to him. He always acts righteously, and he will never oppress us.
24 Wherefore men shall fear him; and the wise also in heart shall fear him.
That is the reason that we have an awesome respect for him; he does not pay attention to those who proudly, [but wrongly], think that they are wise.”
