Job 37

1 “My heart pounds [DOU] when [I think about] that.

Also, at this my heart trembleth, And it moveth from its place.

2 Listen, all of you, to the thunder, which is like God’s voice [DOU].

Hearken diligently to the trembling of His voice, Yea, the sound from His mouth goeth forth.

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.

Under the whole heavens He directeth it, And its light [is] over the skirts 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 it roar doth a voice — He thundereth with the voice of His excellency, And He doth not hold them back, When His voice is heard.

5 When God speaks, it is awesome, like thunder; he does amazing things which we cannot [fully] understand.

God thundereth with His voice wonderfully, Doing great things and we know not.

6 He commands the snow to fall on the ground, and [sometimes] he causes it to rain very hard.

For to snow He saith, 'Be [on] the earth.' And the small rain and great rain of His power.

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).

Into the hand of every man he sealeth, For the knowledge by all men of His work.

8 [When it rains, ] animals go into their hiding places, and they remain there [until the rain stops].

And enter doth the beast into covert, And in its habitations it doth continue.

9 The storms/hurricanes come from the place [in the south where they start], and the cold wind comes from the north.

From the inner chamber cometh a hurricane, And from scatterings winds — cold,

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.

From the breath of God is frost given, And the breadth of waters is straitened,

11 God fills the clouds with moisture/hail, and lightning flashes from the clouds.

Yea, by filling He doth press out a cloud, Scatter a cloud doth His 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.

And it is turning itself round by His counsels, For their doing all He commandeth them, On the face of the habitable earth.

13 Sometimes God sends rain to punish us, and sometimes he sends rain to show us that he acts kindly toward us.

Whether for a rod, or for His land, Or for kindness — He doth cause it to come.

14 “Job, listen to this; stop and think about the wonderful things that God does.

Hear this, O Job, Stand 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]

Dost thou know when God doth place them, And caused to shine the light of His cloud?

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]

Dost thou know the balancings of a cloud? The wonders of the Perfect in knowledge?

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).

How thy garments [are] warm, In the quieting of the earth from the south?

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]

Thou hast made an expanse with Him For the clouds — strong as a hard mirror!

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.

Let us know what we say to Him, We set not in array because of darkness.

20 Should I tell God that I want to speak to him? No, because [if I did that, ] he might destroy me.

Is it declared to Him that I speak? If a man hath spoken, surely he is swallowed up.

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].

And now, they have not seen the light, Bright it [is] in the clouds, And the wind hath passed by and cleanseth them.

22 God comes out of the north with a light [that shines like] gold; his glory causes us to be afraid.

From the golden north it cometh, Beside God [is] fearful honour.

23 Almighty God is very powerful, and we cannot come near to him. He always acts righteously, and he will never oppress us.

The Mighty! we have not found Him out, High in power and judgment, He doth not answer! And abundant in righteousness,

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 do men fear Him, He seeth not any of the wise of heart.