> [[job-36|← Previous]] | [[job-00|TOC]] | [[job-38|Next →]] --- # Job, Chapter 37 ## Chapter 37 1 At this my heart trembles ^job-37-1 and leaps out of its place. 2 Listen to his angry voice ^job-37-2 and the rumble that comes forth from his mouth! 3 Everywhere under the heavens he sends it, ^job-37-3 with his light, to the ends of the earth. 4 Again his voice roars, ^job-37-4 his majestic voice thunders; he does not restrain them when his voice is heard. 5 God thunders forth marvels with his voice; ^job-37-5 he does great things beyond our knowing. 6 He says to the snow, “Fall to the earth”; ^job-37-6 likewise to his heavy, drenching rain. 7 He shuts up all humankind indoors, ^job-37-7 so that all people may know his work. 8 The wild beasts take to cover ^job-37-8 and remain quiet in their dens. 9 Out of its chamber the tempest comes forth; ^job-37-9 from the north winds, the cold. 10 With his breath God brings the frost, ^job-37-10 and the broad waters congeal. 11 The clouds too are laden with moisture, ^job-37-11 the storm-cloud scatters its light. 12 He it is who changes their rounds, according to his plans, ^job-37-12 to do all that he commands them across the inhabited world. 13 Whether for punishment or mercy, ^job-37-13 he makes it happen. 14 Listen to this, Job! ^job-37-14 Stand and consider the marvels of God! 15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them, ^job-37-15 and makes the light shine forth from his clouds? 16 Do you know how the clouds are banked, ^job-37-16 the marvels of him who is perfect in knowledge? 17 You, who swelter in your clothes ^job-37-17 when calm lies over the land from the south, 18 Can you with him spread out the firmament of the skies, ^job-37-18 hard as a molten mirror? 19 Teach us then what we shall say to him; ^job-37-19 we cannot, for the darkness, make our plea. 20 Will he be told about it when I speak? ^job-37-20 Can anyone talk when he is being destroyed? 21 Rather, it is as the light that cannot be seen ^job-37-21 while it is obscured by the clouds, till the wind comes by and sweeps them away. 22 From Zaphon the golden splendor comes, ^job-37-22 surrounding God’s awesome majesty! 23 The Almighty! We cannot find him, ^job-37-23 preeminent in power and judgment, abundant in justice, who never oppresses. 24 Therefore people fear him; ^job-37-24 none can see him, however wise their hearts. \* (37:2) Voice: the thunder. \* (37:12] – [13) The translation of these verses is uncertain. \* (37:18) The firmament…mirror: the ancients thought of the sky as a ceiling above which were the “upper waters” (cf. [Gn 1:6] – [7]; [7:11]); when this ceiling became as hard as metal, the usual rain failed to fall on the earth (cf. [Lv 26:19]; [Dt 28:23]). \* (37:21) Elihu argues that even though God seems not to know our circumstances, he does know them, just as surely as the sun shines behind the clouds. \* (37:22) Zaphon: the mythical mountain of the gods; cf. note on [26:7]. \* (37:24) The concluding remark of Elihu is ironic in view of the appearance of the Lord in the next chapter and Job’s claim in [42:5]. a. (37:10) [Ps 147:17]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[job-36|← Previous]] | [[job-00|TOC]] | [[job-38|Next →]]