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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Job 37

Suffering, protest, limited human knowledge, friendship, and encounter with the sovereign God.

Old Testament

Job 37

1“Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.

2Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.

3He sends it out under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.

4After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.

5God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.

6For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.

7He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.

8Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.

9Out of its room comes the storm, and cold out of the north.

10By the breath of God, ice is given, and the width of the waters is frozen.

11Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.

12It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,

13whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.

14“Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?

16Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

17You whose clothing is warm when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

18Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?

19Teach us what we will tell him, for we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.

20Will it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

21Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.

22Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.

23We can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.

24Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Suffering, protest, limited human knowledge, friendship, and encounter with the sovereign God. Read Job 37 within the complete Job overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Job 37

Job 37 contains 24 verses and about 395 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: ““Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 24 closes: “Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include voice, lightning, earth, can’t, know, cloud. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Job 37

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Job 37:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer