Job 37
1 “Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.
“My heart pounds [DOU] when [I think about] that.
2 Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.
Listen, all of you, to the thunder, which is like God’s voice [DOU].
3 He sends it out under the whole sky, and his lightning to 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 roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything 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 thunders marvellously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.
When God speaks, it is awesome, like thunder; he does amazing things which we cannot [fully] understand.
6 For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.
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 all men whom he has 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 the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.
[When it rains, ] animals go into their hiding places, and they remain there [until the rain stops].
9 Out of its room comes the storm, 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, ice is given, and the width of the waters is frozen.
[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 Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
God fills the clouds with moisture/hail, and lightning flashes from the clouds.
12 It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,
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 is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes 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 “Listen to this, 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 Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning 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 Do you know the workings 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 You whose clothing is warm when the earth is still by reason of 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 Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal 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 Teach us what we will tell him, for we can’t make our case 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 Will it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
Should I tell God that I want to speak to him? No, because [if I did that, ] he might destroy me.
21 Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears 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 Out of the north comes golden splendour. With God is awesome majesty.
God comes out of the north with a light [that shines like] gold; his glory causes us to be afraid.
23 We can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.
Almighty God is very powerful, and we cannot come near to him. He always acts righteously, and he will never oppress us.
24 Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who 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.”
