Job 37
1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved upward out of its place.
“My heart pounds [DOU] when [I think about] that.
2 Hear, O hear, the rattling of his thunder, and the storm's roar that goeth out of his mouth.
Listen, all of you, to the thunder, which is like God’s voice [DOU].
3 Under the whole heavens he letteth it loose, and his lightning over 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 Behind it roareth the thunder; he thundereth with his majestic voice; and he holdeth them not back 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 with his marvelous voice: he doth great things, which we cannot comprehend.
When God speaks, it is awesome, like thunder; he does amazing things which we cannot [fully] understand.
6 For to the snow he saith, Be thou on the earth: likewise the pouring rain, and to the pouring rains of his strength.
He commands the snow to fall on the ground, and [sometimes] he causes it to rain very hard.
7 He sealeth it on the hand of every man, that all men whom he hath made may know it.
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 retire the beasts into [their] dens, and rest in their lairs.
[When it rains, ] animals go into their hiding places, and they remain there [until the rain stops].
9 Out of [his] chamber cometh the whirlwind, and out of the north, the cold.
The storms/hurricanes come from the place [in the south where they start], and the cold wind comes from the north.
10 From the breathing of God ice is given, and the broad waters become solid.
[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 with moisture he loadeth the cloud; [and] he scattereth the cloud of his lightning;
God fills the clouds with moisture/hail, and lightning flashes from the clouds.
12 And it is turned round about by his guidance, to execute what he commandeth it upon the face of the world, 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 Whether it be as a chastising rod—if this be destined for his earth—or for kindness, doth he cause it to come.
Sometimes God sends rain to punish us, and sometimes he sends rain to show us that he acts kindly toward us.
14 Give ear unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider well the wonders of God.
“Job, listen to this; stop and think about the wonderful things that God does.
15 Dost thou know how God hath imposed [a law] on them, and [how] he hath 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 aught about the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who 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 [Thou] who clothest thyself with warm garments, when He giveth the earth rest from 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 skies, which are strong even 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 Let us know what we shall say unto him: we cannot set aught in order [before him] because 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 Can [all] be related of him, when I speak [ever so much]? or if a man talk [of him] even till he be swallowed up [in death]?
Should I tell God that I want to speak to him? No, because [if I did that, ] he might destroy me.
21 Yet now men see not the light which is bright in the skies, when the wind hath passed along, and purified 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 The golden [light] that cometh out of the north: around 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 The Almighty, whom we cannot find out, excellent in power, and in justice, and abounding in righteousness, 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 Therefore do men 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.”
