The Book of Job Paraphrased, Chapter 37
CHAP. XXXVII.
ARGUMENT.
Elihu continues his Speech, which he had begun before, concerning the incomprehenſible Works of God: and limits himſelf chiefly, as he had in the foregoing Chapter, to the Wonders God doeth in the Clouds. To which, at laſt, he ſubjoyns the amazing extent, brightneſs and firmneſs of the Sky; in which the Sun ſhines with a luſtre, which we are not able to behold. And thence concludes, that the Splendour of the Divine Majeſty is infinitely more dazling, and that we muſt not pretend to give an account of his Counſels.
1. AT this alſo my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.1. THESE are a few of the Works of God; and though there be innumerable more, yet this one ſingle effect of his Power ſtrikes terrour into me, and makes my heart tremble, as if it would leap out of my body, and leave me dead.
2. Hear attentively the noiſe of his voice, and the ſound that goeth out of his mouth.2. Hearken, I beſeech you, ſeriouſly to the horrible Noiſe, which comes out of ſome of thoſe clouds; and it will aſtoniſh you alſo. The ſmalleſt Murmurs of it are ſo dreadfull, that it may be fitly ſtiled the Voice of God, calling men to ſtand in awe of Him.
3. He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.3. It is heard far and near, for he darts it through the whole region of the air; accompanied with his Flaſhes of Lightning, which ſhoot to the ends of the earth.
4. After it a voice roareth: he thundreth with the voice of his excellency, and he will not ſtay them when his voice is heard.4. After them follow the claps of Thunder, more terrible then the roarings of a Lion: which grow louder and louder, till they conclude in violent Rain, or Hail, or Tempeſt.
5. God thundreth marvellouſly with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.5. And He who thunders thus with His moſt wonderfull Voice, doeth other great things, which the wit of man cannot comprehend.
6. For he ſaith to the ſnow, Be thou on the earth; likewiſe to the ſmall rain, and to the great rain of his ſtrength.6. For in thoſe clouds, which I have ſo often mentioned, He makes the Snow, and commands it to cover the earth: and on a ſudden they turn into Rain, which ſometimes falls in gentle Showrs, and ſometimes in impetuous Spouts of water.
7. He ſealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.7. Which ſtop the labour of all thoſe whoſe buifineſs is in the fields; and makes the Husbandmen know that He diſpoſes of it as He pleaſes.
8. Then the beaſts go into dens, and remain in their places.8. The very Beaſts alſo are driven, at that ſeaſon, into their Lurking-places, and are forced to ſtay in their Dens.
9. Out of the ſouth cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.9. From one quarter of the Heavens blow turbulent Winds; and from the oppoſite quarter, thoſe cold Blaſts which clear and purify the air again.
10. By the breath of God, froſt is given: and the breadth of the waters is ſtraitned.10. By the like ſharp blaſts God ſends the Froſt; and binds up the Waters ſo faſt that they cannot flow.
11. Alſo by waterings he wearieth the thick cloud: be ſcattereth his bright cloud.11. In ſerene evenings alſo He preſſes the cloud, into drops of Dew upon the earth: or the dewy cloud receiving the Sun-beams, by a diſperſed and various light, makes the beautifull Rainbow in the Heavens.
12. And it is turned round about by his counſels: that they may do whatſoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.12. For it is turned about and whirl'd ſeverall ways, according to the orders of His wiſe Counſell; and ſo are all the reſt that I have mentioned, which execute his Commands upon the face of the whole earth.
13. He cauſeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.13. Being ſent either to bring a Dearth, and to ſcourge our ſins with Plagues and Peſtilential Diſeaſes; or to produce the wonted Crop of the earth, for the neceſſary ſuſtenance of man and beaſt; or to reward our Obedience with extraordinary Plenty and very Healthfull ſeaſons.
14. Hearken unto me, O Job: ſtand ſtill, and conſider the wondrous works of God.14. Liſten diligently to theſe things, O Job, do not diſpute any more with God, but ſilently conſider theſe his wonderfull Works.
15. Doſt thou know when God diſpoſed them, and cauſed the light of his cloud to ſhine?15. Canſt thou tell beforehand what Orders God will give about them? art thou able to tell ſo much as when a Rainbow will appear in the clouds?
16. Doſt thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?16. What canſt thou tell us then of the hanging of the Clouds in the air, as in an equal balance; and ſuch like ſtupendous Works of his moſt abſolute Wiſedom?
17. How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the ſouth -wind?17. Whence comes the violent Heat which weſometimes feel? or how do Calms come out of the ſame quarter, from whence come Whirlwinds? v. 9.
18. Haſt thou with him ſpread out the skie, which is ſtrong, and as a molten lookingglaſs?18. Lift up thy thoughts ſtill higher, and tell us, didſt thou joyn with Him, when He ſtretched out the Sky; in which, as in a mirrour, we behold the admirable Power and Wiſedom of Him, who, though it be ſo wide and vaſt, made it as firm, as it is clear and bright?
19. Teach us what we ſhall ſay unto him; for we cannot order our ſpeech by reaſon of darkneſs.19. Teach us (if thou art ſo well skill'd) what we ſhall ſay to Him of His Power and Wiſedom; for we muſt confeſs our Ignorance is ſo great, that our thoughts are confounded when we attempt it.
20. Shall it be told him that I ſpeak? if a man ſpeak, ſurely he ſhall be ſwallowed up.20. Is any thing that I have ſaid of Him worth His hearing? Whoever he be that goes about to deſcribe Him, ſhall loſe himſelf, and be dazled with the brightneſs of his Glory.
21. And now men ſee not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind paſſeth, and cleanſeth them.21. For, alas! men are not able to look upon the brightneſs of the Sun, when it ſhines in the Heavens, after a wind hath ſwept and cleanſed them,
22. Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majeſty.22. And brought pure and ſerene weather out of the Northern parts: How then ſhall they look upon God, whoſe Majeſty is moſt dreadfull; and therefore not to be pried into with Curioſity, but worſhipped and praiſed with the humbleſt Reverence?
23. 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.23. For when we have done all we can, we muſt acknowledge that the Almighty cannot be comprehended by our Underſtanding: His Power is ſo excellent, His Judgment ſo exact, His Juſtice ſo abundant, that He ought not to be queſtioned by us for what He doeth; but if He be, He will not give an account of His Actions.
24. Men do therefore fear him: he reſpecteth not any that are wiſe of heart.24. Which ſhould make all men ſtand in awe of Him, and lowly adore, rather then boldly diſpute with Him: For He deſpiſeth all thoſe who are ſo wiſe in their own conceit.