Elihu on Thunder, Snow, and Storm

Job 37

Elihu continues describing God's control over thunder, snow, rain, frost, and wind. He urges Job to stand still and consider these wonders as evidence of a power and majesty that all men should fear.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHEREFORE on the account of this my heart was troubled, and moved violently out of its place.

BrentonAt this also my heart is troubled, and moved out of its place.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπὸ ταύτης ἐταράχθη ἡ καρδία μου, καὶ ἀπεῤῥύη ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτῆς.

KJVAt this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

JPSAt this also my heart trembleth, And is moved out of its place.

ThomsonHear the report made by the fierce anger of the Lord! when a threat shall proceed from His mouth;

BrentonHear thou a report by the anger of the Lord's wrath, and a discourse shall come out of his mouth.

GreekἌκουε ἀκοὴν ἐν ὀργῇ θυμοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ μελέτη ἐκ στόματος αὐτοῦ ἐξελεύσεται.

KJVHear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

JPSHear attentively the noise of His voice, And the sound that goeth out of His mouth.

Thomsonas His dominion extendeth over all under heaven, and His light over the wings of the earth.

BrentonHis dominion is under the whole heaven, and his light is at the extremities of the earth.

GreekὙποκάτω παντὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἡ ἀρχὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ φῶς αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πτερύγων τῆς γῆς.

KJVHe directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

JPSHe sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And His lightning unto the ends of the earth.

ThomsonAfter it He will thunder with a voice—He will thunder with the voice of His indignation. (And should it not make a change in those men when He shall cause His voice to be heard?)

BrentonAfter him shall be a cry with a loud voice; he shall thunder with the voice of his excellency, yet he shall not cause men to pass away, for one shall hear his voice.

GreekὈπίσω αὐτοῦ βοήσεται φωνῇ, βροντήσει ἐν φωνῇ ὕβρεως αὐτοὺ· καὶ οὐκ ἀνταλλάξει αὐτούς, ὅτι ἀκούσει φωνὴν αὐτοῦ.

KJVAfter it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

JPS—

ThomsonWith His voice the Almighty will thunder to our astonishment; for He hath done great things which we cannot comprehend;

BrentonThe Mighty One shall thunder wonderfully with his voice: for he has done great things which we knew not;

GreekΒροντήσει ὁ ἰσχυρὸς ἐν φωνῇ αὐτοῦ θαυμάσια· ἐποίησε γὰρ μεγάλα ἃ οὐκ ᾔδειμεν,

KJVGod thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

JPSGod thundereth marvellously with His voice; Great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend.

Thomsonissuing a command to snow: Be thou on the earth, and the tempest and storms of rain, under His command.

Brentoncommanding the snow, Be thou upon the earth, and the stormy rain, and the storm of the showers of his might.

Greekσυντάσσων χιόνι, γίνου ἐπὶ τῆς, γῆς, καὶ χειμὼν ὑετὸς, καὶ χειμὼν ὑετῶν δυναστείας αὐτοῦ.

KJVFor he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

JPSFor He saith to the snow: ‘Fall thou on the earth’; Likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of His mighty rain.

ThomsonHe seals up against the hand of every man, that every man may know his own weakness—

BrentonHe seals up the hand of every man, that every man may know his own weakness.

GreekἘν χειρὶ παντὸς ἀνθρώπου κατασφραγίζει, ἵνα γνῷ πᾶς ἄνθρωπος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀσθένειαν.

KJVHe sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

JPSHe sealeth up the hand of every man, That all men whom He hath made may know it.

Thomson—

BrentonAnd the wild beasts come in under the covert, and rest in their lair.

GreekΕἰσῆλθε δὲ θηρία ὑπὸ τὴν σκέπην, ἡσύχασαν δὲ ἐπὶ κοίτης.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonsorrows issue forth from their chambers, and cold from its lofty summits;

BrentonTroubles come on out of the secret chambers, and cold from the mountain-tops.

GreekἘκ ταμιείων ἐπέρχονται ὀδύναι, ἀπὸ δὲ ἀκρωτηρίων ψῦχος·

KJVOut of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

JPSOut of the Chamber cometh the storm; And cold out of the north.

Thomson—

BrentonAnd from the breath of the Mighty One he will send frost; and he guides the water in whatever way he pleases.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπὸ πνοῆς ἰσχυροῦ δώσει πάγος· οἰακίζει δὲ τὸ ὕδωρ ὡς ἐὰν βούληται,

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBut when a cloud covereth a man of His choice, His light can disperse the cloud:

BrentonAnd if a cloud obscures what is precious to him, his light will disperse the cloud.

Greekκαὶ ἐκλεκτὸν καταπλάσσει νεφέλη· διασκορπιεῖ νέφος φῶς αὐτοῦ,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd he will carry round the encircling clouds by his governance, to perform their works: whatsoever he shall command them,

Greekκαὶ αὐτὸς κυκλώματα διαστρέψει, ἐν θεεβουλαθὼθ, εἰς ἔργα αὐτῶν· πάντα ὅσα ἂν ἐντείληται αὐτοῖς, ταῦτα συντέτακται παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς,

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWhat things soever He giveth them in charge: these are ordered by Him on the earth; and whether they be for correction, or for the benefit of the earth; or for mercy, He is to be found in them.

Brentonthis has been appointed by him on the earth, whether for correction, or for his land, or if he shall find him an object for mercy.

Greekἐάν τε εἰς παιδείαν, ἐὰν εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ, ἐὰν εἰς ἔλεος εὑρήσει αὐτόν.

KJVHe causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

JPSWhether it be for correction, or for His earth, Or for mercy, that He cause it to come.

Thomson—

BrentonHearken to this, O Job: stand still, and be admonished of the power of the Lord.

GreekἘνωτίζου ταῦτα, Ἰώβ· στῆθι νουθετούμενος δύναμιν Κυρίου.

KJVHearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

JPSHearken unto this, O Job; Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

ThomsonHearken, Job, to these things and stand instructed with regard to the power of the Lord. We know that God hath disposed His works—that He hath made light out of darkness—That He knoweth the different purposes of clouds, and the miraculous fall of wicked men.

BrentonWe know that God has disposed his works, having made light out of darkness.

GreekΟἴδαμεν ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ἔθετο ἔργα αὐτοῦ, φῶς ποιήσας ἐκ σκότους.

KJVDost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd he knows the divisions of the clouds, and the signal overthrows of the ungodly.

GreekἘπίσταται δὲ διάκρισιν νεφῶν, ἐξαίσια δὲ πτώματα πονηρῶν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonNow thy clothing is warm and there is peace in the land.

BrentonBut thy robe is warm, and there is quiet upon the land.

GreekΣοῦ δὲ ἡ στολὴ θερμὴ, ἡσυχάζεται δὲ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonWilt thou establish with him foundations for the ancient heavens? they are strong as a molten mirror.

GreekΣτερεώσεις μετʼ αὐτοῦ εἰς παλαιώματα, ἰσχυραὶ ὡς ὅρασις ἐπιχύσεως.

KJV—

JPSCanst thou with Him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror?

ThomsonTherefore teach me what we shall say to Him. And let us refrain from much speaking.

BrentonWherefore teach me, what shall we say to him? and let us cease from saying much.

GreekΔιατὶ δίδαξόν με, τί ἐροῦμεν αὐτῷ; καὶ παυσώμεθα πολλὰ λέγοντες.

KJVTeach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

JPSTeach us what we shall say unto Him; For we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

ThomsonHave I had a book or a scribe by me, that by stopping the man I could be silent?

BrentonHave I a book or a scribe by me, that I may stand and put man to silence?

GreekΜὴ βίβλος ἢ γραμματεύς μοι παρέστηκεν, ἵνα ἄνθρωπον ἑστηκὼς κατασιωπήσω;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThough the light is not visible to all, there is a brightening in the heavens, like that which cometh in clouds from him.

BrentonBut the light is not visible to all: it shines afar off in the heavens, as that which is from him in the clouds.

GreekΠᾶσι δὲ οὐχ ὁρατὸν τὸ φῶς, τηλαυγές ἐστιν ἐν τοῖς παλαιώμασιν, ὥσπερ τὸ παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ νεφῶν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFrom the north the clouds brighten like effulgent gold. For these things great is the glory and honour of the Almighty.

BrentonFrom the north come the clouds shining like gold: in these great are the glory and honour of the Almighty;

GreekἈπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ νέφη χρυσαυγοῦντα, ἐπὶ τούτοις μεγάλη ἡ δόξα καὶ τιμὴ παντοκράτορος,

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAs we cannot find another equal to Him in majesty; dost thou not think that He who judgeth righteously will hear?

Brentonand we do not find another his equal in strength: as for him that judges justly, dost thou not think that he listens?

Greekκαὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκομεν ἄλλον ὅμοιον τῇ ἰσχύϊ αὐτοῦ· ὁ τὰ δίκαια κρίνων, οὐκ οἴει ἐπακούειν αὐτόν;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonMen therefore ought to fear Him. They indeed who are wise in heart, will fear Him.

BrentonWherefore men shall fear him; and the wise also in heart shall fear him.

GreekΔιὸ φοβηθήσονται αὐτὸν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, φοβηθήσονται δὲ αὐτὸν καὶ οἱ σοφοὶ καρδίᾳ.

KJVMen do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

JPSMen do therefore fear Him; He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.