Job 37:15-24

15 numquid scis quando praeceperit Deus pluviis ut ostenderent lucem nubium eius
16 numquid nosti semitas nubium magnas et perfectas scientias
17 nonne vestimenta tua calida sunt cum perflata fuerit terra austro
18 tu forsitan cum eo fabricatus es caelos qui solidissimi quasi aere fusi sunt
19 ostende nobis quid dicamus illi nos quippe involvimur tenebris
20 quis narrabit ei quae loquor etiam si locutus fuerit homo devorabitur
21 at nunc non vident lucem subito aer cogitur in nubes et ventus transiens fugabit eas
22 ab aquilone aurum venit et ad Deum formidolosa laudatio
23 digne eum invenire non possumus magnus fortitudine et iudicio et iustitia et enarrari non potest
24 ideo timebunt eum viri et non audebunt contemplari omnes qui sibi videntur esse sapientes

Job 37:15-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 37

Elihu in this chapter proceeds to show the greatness of God as it appears in other of his works of nature, which greatly affected him, and to an attention to which he exhorts others, Job 37:1,2; particularly thunder and lightning, the direction, extent, and order of which he observes, Job 37:3,4; and then suggests that besides these there are other great things done by him, incomprehensible and unknown in various respects; as the snow, and rain, lesser and greater, which come on the earth at his command, and have such effect on men as to seal up their hands, and on the beasts of the field as to cause them to retire to their dens, and there remain, Job 37:5-8; and then he goes on to take notice of wind, and frost, and the clouds, and dispersion of them; their use and ends, whether in judgment or mercy, Job 37:9-13; and then calls on Job to consider these wondrous works of God, and remark how ignorant men are of the disposition of clouds for the rainbow; of the balancing of them; of the heat and quietness that come by the south wind, and of the firmness of the sky, Job 37:14-21; and from all this he concludes the terrible majesty, unsearchable nature of God, the excellency of his power and justice; and that men therefore should and do fear him, who is no respecter of persons, Job 37:21-23.

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.