Study Desk

"Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes peace and order in His high places.

"Is there any number to His [vast celestial] armies? And upon whom does His light not rise?

"Behold, even the moon has no brightness [compared to God's majesty and glory] And the stars are not pure in His sight,

"Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) is naked before God, And Abaddon (the place of destruction) has no covering [from His eyes].

"He wraps the waters in His clouds [which otherwise would spill on earth all at once], And the cloud does not burst under them.

"He covers the face of the full moon And spreads His cloud over it.

"The pillars of the heavens tremble And are terrified at His rebuke.

"He stirred up the sea by His power, And by His understanding He smashed [proud] Rahab.

"By His breath the heavens are cleared; His hand has pierced the [swiftly] fleeing serpent.

"Yet these are just the fringes of His ways [mere samples of His power], The faintest whisper of His voice! Who can contemplate the thunder of His [full] mighty power?"

Job continued his discourse and said,

"For what is the hope of the godless, even though he has gained [in this world], When God takes his life?

"Will God hear his cry When trouble and distress come upon him?

Though his children are many, they are destined for the sword; And his descendants will not have sufficient bread.

"He builds his house like a spider's web, Like a (temporary) hut which a watchman makes.

"He lies down rich, but never will again; He opens his eyes, and it is gone.

"The east wind lifts him up, and he is gone; It sweeps him out of his place.

"People will clap their hands at him [to mock and ridicule him] And hiss him out of his place.

"Man puts his hand on [and tears apart] the flinty rock; He overturns the mountains at the base [looking for treasure].

"He cuts out channels and passages among the rocks; And his eye sees every precious thing.