Job 36:7–38:19

7 cHe does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;

But dthey are on the throne with kings,

For He has seated them forever,

And they are exalted.

8 And eif they are bound in 2fetters,

Held in the cords of affliction,

9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—

That they have acted 3defiantly.

10 fHe also opens their ear to 4instruction,

And commands that they turn from iniquity.

11 If they obey and serve Him,

They shall gspend their days in prosperity,

And their years in pleasures.

12 But if they do not obey,

They shall perish by the sword,

And they shall die 5without hknowledge.

13 “But the hypocrites in heart istore up wrath;

They do not cry for help when He binds them.

14 jThey 6die in youth,

And their life ends among the 7perverted persons.

15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,

And opens their ears in oppression.

16 “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,

kInto a broad place where there is no restraint;

And lwhat is set on your table would be full of mrichness.

17 But you are filled with the judgment due the nwicked;

Judgment and justice take hold of you.

18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;

For oa large ransom would not help you avoid it.

19 pWill your riches,

Or all the mighty forces,

Keep you from distress?

20 Do not desire the night,

When people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, qdo not turn to iniquity,

For ryou have chosen this rather than affliction.

22 “Behold, God is exalted by His power;

Who teaches like Him?

23 sWho has assigned Him His way,

Or who has said, ‘You have done twrong’?

Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

24 “Remember to umagnify His work,

Of which men have sung.

25 Everyone has seen it;

Man looks on it from afar.

26 “Behold, God is great, and we vdo not know Him;

wNor can the number of His years be discovered.

27 For He xdraws up drops of water,

Which distill as rain from the mist,

28 yWhich the clouds drop down

And pour abundantly on man.

29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,

The thunder from His canopy?

30 Look, He zscatters His light upon it,

And covers the depths of the sea.

31 For aby these He judges the peoples;

He bgives food in abundance.

32 cHe covers His hands with lightning,

And commands it to 8strike.

33 dHis thunder declares it,

The cattle also, concerning 9the rising storm.

37 “At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.

2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,

And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.

3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven,

His 1lightning to the ends of the earth.

4 After it aa voice roars;

He thunders with His majestic voice,

And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.

5 God thunders marvelously with His voice;

bHe does great things which we cannot comprehend.

6 For cHe says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;

Likewise to the 2gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.

7 He seals the hand of every man,

dThat eall men may know His work.

8 The beasts fgo into dens,

And remain in their lairs.

9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,

And cold from the scattering winds of the north.

10 gBy the breath of God ice is given,

And the broad waters are frozen.

11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;

He scatters His 3bright clouds.

12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,

That they may hdo whatever He commands them

On the face of 4the whole earth.

13 iHe causes it to come,

Whether for 5correction,

Or jfor His land,

Or kfor mercy.

14 “Listen to this, O Job;

Stand still and lconsider the wondrous works of God.

15 Do you know when God 6dispatches them,

And causes the light of His cloud to shine?

16 mDo you know how the clouds are balanced,

Those wondrous works of nHim who is perfect in knowledge?

17 Why are your garments hot,

When He quiets the earth by the south wind?

18 With Him, have you ospread out the pskies,

Strong as a cast metal mirror?

19 “Teach us what we should say to Him,

For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.

20 Should He be told that I wish to speak?

If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.

21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies,

When the wind has passed and cleared them.

22 He comes from the north as golden splendor;

With God is awesome majesty.

23 As for the Almighty, qwe cannot find Him;

rHe is excellent in power,

In judgment and abundant justice;

He does not oppress.

24 Therefore men sfear Him;

He shows no partiality to any who are twise of heart.”

The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job

38 Then the Lord answered Job aout of the whirlwind, and said:

2 “Who bis this who darkens counsel

By cwords without knowledge?

3 dNow 1prepare yourself like a man;

I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

4 “Where ewere you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell Me, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements?

Surely you know!

Or who stretched the 2line upon it?

6 To what were its foundations fastened?

Or who laid its cornerstone,

7 When the morning stars sang together,

And all fthe sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Or gwho shut in the sea with doors,

When it burst forth and issued from the womb;

9 When I made the clouds its garment,

And thick darkness its swaddling band;

10 When hI fixed My limit for it,

And set bars and doors;

11 When I said,

‘This far you may come, but no farther,

And here your proud waves imust stop!’

12 “Have you jcommanded the morning since your days began,

And caused the dawn to know its place,

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,

And kthe wicked be shaken out of it?

14 It takes on form like clay under a seal,

And stands out like a garment.

15 From the wicked their llight is withheld,

And mthe 3upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have you nentered the springs of the sea?

Or have you walked in search of the depths?

17 Have othe gates of death been 4revealed to you?

Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?

Tell Me, if you know all this.

19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light?

And darkness, where is its place,