Job 37

ARGUIvfENT. Elihu continues his speech, which he had begun before,. concerning the incomprehensible works of God: and limits himself chiefly, as he had in the foregoing chapter, to the wonders God doth in the clouds. To which, at last, he subjoins the amazing extent, brightness, and firmness of the sky; in which the sun shines with a lustre which we are not able to behold. And thence concludes, that the splendour of the Divine Majesty is infinitely more dazzling, and that we must not pretend to give an; account of his counsels.

Job 37:1

JjlT this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. These are a few of the works of God; and though there be innumerable more, yet this one single effect of his power strikes terror into me, and makes my heart tremble, as if it’ would leap out of my body, and leave me. dead.

Job 37:2

Hear attentively the 7ioise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. Hearken I beseech you seriously to tho horrible noise’which comes out of some of those clouds, and it will astonish you also. The smallest murmurs arc so dreadfnT, that it may be filly styled the voice of God, calling men to stand in awo of him,

Job 37:3

He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. It is heard far and near, for he darts it through the whole region of the air; accompanied with his flashes of lightning, which shoot to the ends of the earth,

Job 37:4

After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. After them follow the claps of thunder, I more terrible than the roarings of a lion: which grow louder and louder till they conclude in a violent rain, or hail, or tempest.

Job 37:5

God thundereth marvellously with his voice: great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. And he who thunders thus with his most wonderful voice, doth other great things which the wit of man cannot comprehend.

Job 37:6

For he saith to the snoro, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. For in those clouds, which I have so often mentioned, he makes the snow, and commands it to cover the earth; and on a sudden they turn into rain, which sometimes falls in gentle showers, and sometimes in impetuous spouts of water:

Job 37:7

He sealeth tip the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. Which stop the labour of all those whose business is in the fields; and make the husbandmen know that he disposeth of them as he pleases.

Job 37:8

Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. The very beasts also are driven at that season into their lurking-places, and are forced to stay in their dens.

Job 37:9

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind; and cold out of the north. From one quarter of the heavens blow turbulent winds; and from the opposite quarter those cold blasts which clear and purify the air again.

Job 37:10

By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. By the like sharp blasts God sends the frost; and binds up the waters so fast that they cannot flow.

Job 37:11

Also by tvaterings he wearieth the thick cloud; he scattereth his bright cloud. In serene evenings also he presses the cloud into drops of dew upon the earth; or the dewy cloud receiving the sunbeams, by a dispersed and various light, makes the beautiful rainbow in the heavens.

Job 37:12

And it is turned round about by his counsels; that they may do ivhatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. For it is turned about and whirled several ways, according to.the orders of his wise counsel; and so are all the rest that I have mentioned, which execute his commands upon the face of the whole earth.

Job 37:13

He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. Being sent either to bring a dearth, and to scourge our sins with plagues and pestilential diseases; or to produce the wonted crop of the earth for the necessary sustenance of man and beast; or to reward our obedience with extraordinary plenty, and very healthful seasons.

Job 37:14

Hearken unto me, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Listen diligently to these things, O Job; do not dispute any more with God, but silently consider these his wonderful works.

Job 37:15

Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?. Canst thou tell beforehand what orders God will give about them? Art thou able to tell so much as when a rainbow will appear in the clouds? Ver, 1G. Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?] What canst thou tell us then of the hanging of the clouds in the air, as in an equal balance, and such-like stupendous works of his most absolute wisdom?

Job 37:17

How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?. Whence comes the violent heat which we sometimes feel? or how do calms come out of the same quarter from whence come whirlwinds? (ver. 9.)

Job 37:18

Hast thou with him spread out the sky, tuhich is strong, and as a molten looking-glass?. Lift up thy thoughts still higher, and tell us, Didst thou join with him when he stretched out the sky, in which, as jn a mirror, we behold the admirable power and wisdom of him, who, though it be so wide and vast, made it as firm as it is clear and bright?

Job 37:19

Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. Teach us (if thou art so well skilled) what we shall say to him of his power and wisdom; for we must confess our ignorance is so great, that our thoughts are confounded when we attempt it. •

Job 37:20

Shall it be told him that I speak? If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. Is any thing that I have said of him worth his hearing? Whoever he be that goes about to describe him shall lose himself, and be dazzled with the brightness of his glory.

Job 37:21

And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. For, alas! men are not able to look upon the brightness of the sun when it shines in the heavens, after a wind hath swept and cleansed them;

Job 37:22

Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. And brought pure and serene weather out of the northern parts: how then shall they look upon God, whose majesty is most dreadful, and therefore not to be pried into with curiosity, but worshipped and praised with the humblest reverence?

Job 37:23

Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him oirf: he is excellent, in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he ivill not afflict. For when we have done all we can, we must acknowledge, that the Almighty cannot be comprehended by our understanding: his power is so excellent, his judgment so exact, his justice so abundant, that he ought not to be questioned by us for what he doth; but if he be, he will not give an account of his actions.

Job 37:24

Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are ivise of heart. Which should make all men stand in awe of him, and lowly adore, rather than boldly dispute with him: for he despiseth all those who are so wise in their own conceit.