Job 37
1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
“My heart pounds [DOU] when [I think about] that.
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
Listen, all of you, to the thunder, which is like God’s voice [DOU].
3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends 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 it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
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 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
When God speaks, it is awesome, like thunder; he does amazing things which we cannot [fully] understand.
6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
He commands the snow to fall on the ground, and [sometimes] he causes it to rain very hard.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
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 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
[When it rains, ] animals go into their hiding places, and they remain there [until the rain stops].
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
The storms/hurricanes come from the place [in the south where they start], and the cold wind comes from the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
[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 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
God fills the clouds with moisture/hail, and lightning flashes from the clouds.
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
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 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or 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 unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
“Job, listen to this; stop and think about the wonderful things that God does.
15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
(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 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
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 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
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 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
(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 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
“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 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
Should I tell God that I want to speak to him? No, because [if I did that, ] he might destroy me.
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
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 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
God comes out of the north with a light [that shines like] gold; his glory causes us to be afraid.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
Almighty God is very powerful, and we cannot come near to him. He always acts righteously, and he will never oppress us.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
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.”
