37
‘When I hear the thunder, my heart pounds. It beats faster inside me.
2 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice!
Listen to the thunder that comes from him!
3 He sends his lightning across the sky.
It reaches from one end of the earth to the other.
4 Next comes the sound of his roaring thunder.
He thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice fills the air,
he doesn't hold anything back.
5 God's voice thunders in wonderful ways.
We'll never understand the great things he does.
6 He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth.”
He tells the rain, “Pour down your mighty waters.”
7 He stops everyone from working.
He wants them to see his work.
8 The animals go inside.
They remain in their dens.
9 The storm comes out of its storeroom in the heavens.
The cold comes from the driving winds.
10 The breath of God produces ice.
The shallow water freezes over.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture.
He scatters his lightning through them.
12 He directs the clouds to circle
above the surface of the whole earth.
They do everything he commands them to do.
13 He tells the clouds to punish people.
Or he brings them to water his earth and show his love.
14 ‘Job, listen to me.
Stop and think about the wonderful things God does.
15 Do you know how he controls the clouds?
Do you understand how he makes his lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds stay up in the sky?
Do you understand the wonders of the God who has perfect knowledge?
17 Even your clothes are too hot for you
when the land lies quiet under the south wind.
18 Can you help God spread out the skies?
They are as hard as a mirror
that's made out of bronze.
19 ‘Job, tell us what we should say to God.
We can't prepare our case
because our minds are dark.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be destroyed by him?
21 No one can look at the sun.
It's too bright after the wind has swept the skies clean.
22 Out of the north, God comes in his shining glory.
He comes in all his wonderful majesty.
23 We can't reach up to the Mighty One.
He is lifted high because of his power.
Everything he does is fair and right.
So he doesn't crush people.
24 That's why they have respect for him.
He cares about all those who are wise.’
32:1–37:24 Elihu was younger than Job's other friends. It's thought that he was also from Edom. Elihu was angry at Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. They hadn't fully answered Job or shown how Job was wrong. Elihu thought that it was wrong for Job to question God. He thought that Job believed he was right and that God was wrong. This made Elihu angry. But the answer he gave about Job's suffering was like the answers of the others. Elihu believed that God allowed Job to suffer in order to correct him. The suffering was seen as a warning to keep Job from sinning. Elihu thought that this would save Job from being put to death for his sins. Elihu understood that God never does anything evil, wrong or unfair. So he thought it was wrong for Job to think that God treated him unfairly. He thought that this showed that Job was full of pride. Elihu understood that God has complete power over everything. God is the Creator who made the world and everything in it. God is the only one able to keep the life of the world going. For Elihu, this meant that people can't understand God's reasons for doing something. So he thought that people shouldn't ask questions about God's reasons.