Job 37
1 “My heart pounds [DOU] when [I think about] that.
At this, my heart became frightened, and it has been moved from its place.
2 Listen, all of you, to the thunder, which is like God’s voice [DOU].
Pay close attention to the alarm of his voice and to the sound that proceeds from his mouth.
3 He causes thunder to be heard all across the sky, and he causes lighting to flash to the most distant places on the earth.
He beholds everything under the heavens, and his light reaches beyond the ends of the earth.
4 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.
After this, a noise will sound; he will thunder with the voice of his greatness, and it will not be tracked down, yet his voice will be obeyed.
5 When God speaks, it is awesome, like thunder; he does amazing things which we cannot [fully] understand.
God will thunder with his voice miraculously, for he performs great and unsearchable things.
6 He commands the snow to fall on the ground, and [sometimes] he causes it to rain very hard.
He commands the snow to descend on earth, and the winter rains, and the shower of his strength.
7 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).
He signs the hand of all men, so that each one may know his works.
8 [When it rains, ] animals go into their hiding places, and they remain there [until the rain stops].
The beast will enter his hiding-place, and he will remain in his cave.
9 The storms/hurricanes come from the place [in the south where they start], and the cold wind comes from the north.
From the interior, a storm will come forth, and a cold winter from the north.
10 [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.
As God breathes out, frost forms, and the waters are poured forth very widely again.
11 God fills the clouds with moisture/hail, and lightning flashes from the clouds.
Crops desire clouds, and the clouds scatter their light.
12 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.
It shines all around, wherever the will of him that governs them will lead, to anywhere he will command, over the whole face of the earth,
13 Sometimes God sends rain to punish us, and sometimes he sends rain to show us that he acts kindly toward us.
whether in one tribe, or in his own region, or in whatever place of his mercy that he will order them to be found.
14 “Job, listen to this; stop and think about the wonderful things that God does.
Listen to these things, Job. Stand up and consider the wonders of God.
15 (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]
Do you know when God ordered the rains, so as to show the light of his clouds?
16 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]
Do you know the great paths of the clouds, and the perfect sciences?
17 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).
Are not your garments hot, when the south wind blows across the land?
18 (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]
Perhaps you have made the heavens with him, which are very solid, as if they had been cast from brass.
19 “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.
Reveal to us what we should say to him, for, of course, we are wrapped in darkness.
20 Should I tell God that I want to speak to him? No, because [if I did that, ] he might destroy me.
Who will explain to him the things that I am saying? Even while a man is still speaking, he will be devoured.
21 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].
Although they do not see the light, the air will be thickened suddenly into clouds, and the wind, passing by, will drive them away.
22 God comes out of the north with a light [that shines like] gold; his glory causes us to be afraid.
Riches arrive from the north, and fearful praise reaches out to God.
23 Almighty God is very powerful, and we cannot come near to him. He always acts righteously, and he will never oppress us.
We are not worthy to be able to find him. Great in strength, great in judgment, great in justice: he is indescribable.
24 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.”
Therefore, men will fear him, and all those who seem to themselves to be wise, will not dare to contemplate him.
