Job
Chapter 37
Elihu finishes speaking by describing a storm as God's work. He points to thunder, lightning, snow, rain, ice, wind, and clouds, and says God directs each one to do exactly what he commands. Then he turns to Job and tells him to stand still and think about these things, since no one can explain them or make a case against God. The speech ends just before God himself answers Job out of the whirlwind.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
1My heart pounds when I think about this. It leaps inside my chest.
2Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
2Listen carefully to the thunder of his voice, and to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
3He sends it out under the whole sky. He sends his lightning to the far edges of the earth.
4After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
4After the flash comes a roar. He thunders with his majestic voice. He does not hold the lightning back when his voice is heard.
5God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
5God's thunder is wonderful to hear. He does great things that we cannot understand.
6For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
6He says to the snow, "Fall on the earth." He says the same to the light rain and to the heavy downpour.
7He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
7He shuts down the work of every person's hands, so that everyone may see what he has done.
8Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
8Then the wild animals go into their dens and stay inside.
9Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
9The storm wind sweeps out of the south, and the cold comes with the north wind.
10By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
10God breathes, and ice forms. The wide waters freeze hard.
11Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
11He loads the thick clouds with water. He scatters his lightning through them.
12And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
12The clouds turn and swirl wherever he directs them. They do whatever he commands, all over the earth.
13He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
13He sends the storm for one of these reasons: to punish, to water his land, or to show his love.
14Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
14Listen to this, Job. Stand still and think about the wonderful things God does.
15Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
15Do you know how God controls the clouds, or how he makes the lightning flash?
16Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
16Do you know how the clouds hang in the air? They are the work of the one whose knowledge is perfect.
17How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
17You who swelter in your clothes when the south wind makes the land still and hot,
18Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
18can you spread out the sky beside him? It is strong, like a mirror of hammered metal.
A "looking glass" in 1611 English meant a mirror. Mirrors then were made of polished metal, not glass, so the picture is of a hard, shining sheet stretched overhead.
19Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
19Teach us what we should say to him. We are in the dark and cannot put our case together.
20Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
20Should God be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
21No one can look at the sun when it blazes in the sky after the wind has swept the clouds away.
The KJV says "the bright light which is in the clouds." It means the sun, too bright to stare at once the wind has cleared the sky.
22Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
22Out of the north comes a golden light. Around God is awesome majesty.
23Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
23The Almighty is beyond our reach. His power is great. He is fair and always right, and he does not crush people.
"He will not afflict" does not mean God never sends trouble. The Hebrew means he does not treat people unjustly or crush them without cause.
24Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
24So people stand in awe of him. He is not impressed by anyone who thinks himself wise.
← → to turn the page · P for plain English · click a verse to sit with it