Elihu: the thunder of his power
At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen. Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. God's voice thunders in marvellous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, Fall on the earth, and to the rain shower, Be a mighty downpour. So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labour. The animals take cover; they remain in their dens. The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds. The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love. Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge? You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind, can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze? Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness. Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up? Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean. Out of the north he comes in golden splendour; God comes in awesome majesty. The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?
At this my heart pounds
and leaps from its place.
At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
Listen. Listen to the roar of his voice,
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.
He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back.
After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
God's voice thunders in marvellous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.
God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
He says to the snow, Fall on the earth,
and to the rain shower, Be a mighty downpour.
For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
So that everyone he has made may know his work,
he stops all people from their labour.
He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
The animals take cover;
they remain in their dens.
Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
The tempest comes out from its chamber,
the cold from the driving winds.
Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.
By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
He loads the clouds with moisture;
he scatters his lightning through them.
Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.
And 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.
He brings the clouds to punish people,
or to water his earth and show his love.
He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
Listen to this, Job;
stop and consider God's wonders.
Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes his lightning flash?
Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
You who swelter in your clothes
when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
can you join him in spreading out the skies,
hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
Tell us what we should say to him;
we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
Should he be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
Now no one can look at the sun,
bright as it is in the skies
after the wind has swept them clean.
And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
Out of the north he comes in golden splendour;
God comes in awesome majesty.
Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;
in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
Therefore, people revere him,
for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?
Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.