Job 37:14-24
Job 37:14-24 The Message (MSG)
“Job, are you listening? Have you noticed all this? Stop in your tracks! Take in God’s miracle-wonders! Do you have any idea how God does it all, how he makes bright lightning from dark storms, How he piles up the cumulus clouds— all these miracle-wonders of a perfect Mind? Why, you don’t even know how to keep cool on a sweltering hot day, So how could you even dream of making a dent in that hot-tin-roof sky? “If you’re so smart, give us a lesson in how to address God. We’re in the dark and can’t figure it out. Do you think I’m dumb enough to challenge God? Wouldn’t that just be asking for trouble? No one in his right mind stares straight at the sun on a clear and cloudless day. As gold comes from the northern mountains, so a terrible beauty streams from God. “Mighty God! Far beyond our reach! Unsurpassable in power and justice! It’s unthinkable that he’d treat anyone unfairly. So bow to him in deep reverence, one and all! If you’re wise, you’ll most certainly worship him.”
Job 37:14-24 King James Version (KJV)
Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Dost thou know when God disposed them, And caused the light of his cloud to shine? Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? How thy garments are warm, When he quieteth the earth by the south wind? Hast thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? Teach us what we shall say unto him; For we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. Shall it be told him that I speak? If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. And now men see not the bright light Which is in the clouds: But the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. Fair weather cometh out of the north: With God is terrible majesty. 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. Men do therefore fear him: He respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
Job 37:14-24 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
“Listen to this, O Job, Stand and consider the wonders of God. Do you know how God establishes them, And makes the lightning of His cloud to shine? Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds, The wonders of one perfect in knowledge, You whose garments are hot, When the land is still because of the south wind? Can you, with Him, spread out the skies, Strong as a molten mirror? Teach us what we shall say to Him; We cannot arrange our case because of darkness. Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up? “Now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies; But the wind has passed and cleared them. Out of the north comes golden splendor; Around God is awesome majesty. The Almighty—we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power And He will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness. Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”
Job 37:14-24 New Century Version (NCV)
“Job, listen to this: Stop and notice God’s miracles. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang in the sky? Do you know the miracles of God, who knows everything? You suffer in your clothes when the land is silenced by the hot, south wind. You cannot stretch out the sky like God and make it look as hard as polished bronze. Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot get our arguments ready because we do not have enough understanding. Should God be told that I want to speak? Would a person ask to be swallowed up? No one can look at the sun when it is bright in the sky after the wind has blown all the clouds away. God comes out of the north in golden light, in overwhelming greatness. The Almighty is too high for us to reach. He has great strength; he is always right and never punishes unfairly. That is why people honor him; he does not respect those who say they are wise.”
Job 37:14-24 American Standard Version (ASV)
Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Dost thou know how God layeth his charge upon them, And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine? Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge? How thy garments are warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south wind? Canst thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror? Teach us what we shall say unto him; For we cannot set our speech in order by reason of darkness. Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up? And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies; But the wind passeth, and cleareth them. Out of the north cometh golden splendor: God hath upon him terrible majesty. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: He is excellent in power; And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict. Men do therefore fear him: He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.
Job 37:14-24 New International Version (NIV)
“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 splendor; 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?”
Job 37:14-24 New King James Version (NKJV)
“Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you know when God dispatches them, And causes the light of His cloud to shine? Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge? Why are your garments hot, When He quiets the earth by the south wind? With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror? “Teach us what we should say to Him, For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness. Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up. Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, When the wind has passed and cleared them. He comes from the north as golden splendor; With God is awesome majesty. As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress. Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.”
Job 37:14-24 Amplified Bible (AMP)
¶“Listen to this, Job; Stand still and consider the wonders of God. “Do you know how God establishes and commands them, And makes the lightning of His [storm] cloud shine? “Do you know about the layers of thick clouds [and how they are balanced and poised in the heavens], The wonderful works of Him who is perfect in knowledge, You whose garments are hot, When He quiets the earth [in sultry summer] with the [oppressive] south wind? “Can you, with Him, spread out the sky, Strong as a molten mirror? “Tell us [Job] what words [of man] shall we say to such a Being; We cannot state our case because of darkness [that is, our ignorance in the presence of the unsearchable God]. “So shall it be told Him that I wish to speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up [and destroyed by God]? ¶“Now people cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies [without being blinded], When the wind has passed and cleared them. “Out of the north comes golden splendor [and people can hardly look on it]; Around God is awesome splendor and majesty [far too glorious for man’s eyes]. “The Almighty—we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power And He will not do violence to [nor disregard] justice and abundant righteousness. [1 Tim 6:16] “Men therefore fear Him; He does not regard nor respect any who are wise in heart [in their own understanding and conceit].” [Matt 10:28]
Job 37:14-24 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Pay attention to this, Job. Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God! Do you know how God controls the storm and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds? Do you understand how he moves the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill? When you are sweltering in your clothes and the south wind dies down and everything is still, he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror. Can you do that? “So teach the rest of us what to say to God. We are too ignorant to make our own arguments. Should God be notified that I want to speak? Can people even speak when they are confused? We cannot look at the sun, for it shines brightly in the sky when the wind clears away the clouds. So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God. He is clothed in dazzling splendor. We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us. No wonder people everywhere fear him. All who are wise show him reverence.”
Job 37:14-24 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)
“Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge, you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind? Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror? Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness. Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up? “And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them. Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty. The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”