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Atlas of Saints

Job

Chapter 37 · Douay–Rheims / Challoner

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Chapter XXXVII · Location 37 of 42

Chapter 37 · Open to read

From Job · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)

What does Job Chapter 37 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Eliu speaks of trembling, thunder, snow, rain, frost and clouds guided over earth. He questions Job about cloud paths, hot garments and heavens like molten brass. He speaks of darkness, cold from the north and fear; separate notes explain closed hands and being swallowed up.

Chapter breakdown

Eliu confessed that his heart leaped with terror at the majesty of God, trembling and shaken from its place. He urged his listeners to hear attentively the roar of the Almighty's voice and the reverberations proceeding from His mouth. God surveys all beneath heaven, projecting His light to the ends of the earth, followed by the majestic roar of thunder that exceeds all searching out. God thunders marvelously, performing great deeds beyond human comprehension. He commands the snow to fall upon the earth, sending torrential winter rains and storms of His power. Through these torrential downpours, God seals up the hand of every person so that all may recognize His works; a Challoner annotation clarifies that by sending intense rainstorms, God confines men indoors from their usual outdoor labors, to consider His works or forecast their own works, that is, what they are to do. In response to the storms, wild beasts retreat into their shelters and remain in their dens. Out of the inner parts comes a tempest and freezing cold out of the north; at God's breath frost is formed, and waters are once more poured out in abundance. Clouds water the grain, spreading light and turning in whatever direction the divine will guides them across the earth, whether in one tribe, His own land or a place of His mercy.

In Eliu’s speech, calling directly upon Job, Eliu urged him to stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. He asked whether Job understood how God commands the rains and flashes light through the clouds, or if he comprehended the great paths of the clouds and the perfect knowledge of the Creator. He questioned whether Job could explain why his garments grow swelteringly hot when the south wind blows upon the earth. Did Job participate in forging the dome of the heavens with God, establishing skies as solid and firm as if of molten brass?

In Eliu’s speech, acknowledging human ignorance, Eliu challenged Job to teach them what mortals could possibly say to God, confessing that humans are shrouded in thick darkness. Who could dare report to God the words a mortal speaks? If any man should presume to speak, he would be swallowed up; a Challoner annotation explains that anything mortal man can utter concerning God is so trivial that man is entirely lost, as if swallowed up in an immense ocean. Eliu says they do not now see the light; the air suddenly thickens into clouds and wind drives them away. Cold comes out of the north, summoning fearful praise to God. Mortals cannot fathom Him worthily, for He is sublime in power, perfect in judgment, and boundless in justice. Therefore all humanity must revere Him in holy fear, and none who fancy themselves wise will ever dare to gaze upon Him.

The story inside

Opening: Eliu speaks of trembling, thunder, snow, rain, frost and clouds guided over earth. Development: He questions Job about cloud paths, hot garments and heavens like molten brass. Conclusion: He speaks of darkness, cold from the north and fear; separate notes explain closed hands and being swallowed up.

Lessons worth keeping

  1. 1
    Eliu speaks of trembling, thunder, snow, rain, frost and clouds guided over earth.
  2. 2
    He questions Job about cloud paths, hot garments and heavens like molten brass.
  3. 3
    He speaks of darkness, cold from the north and fear; separate notes explain closed hands and being swallowed up.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

  1. Lines 57240–57241

    He sealeth up the hand of all men, that every one may know his works.
  2. Lines 57243–57247

    He sealeth up, etc.... When he sends those showers of his strength, that is, those storms of rain, he seals up, that is, he shuts up the hands of men from their usual works abroad, and confines them within doors, to consider his works
  3. Lines 57288–57290

    He shall be swallowed up.... All that man can say when he speaks of God, is so little and inconsiderable in comparison with the subject, that man is lost, and as it were swallowed up in so immense an ocean.
  4. Lines 57297–57298

    We cannot find him worthily: he is great in strength, and in judgment, and in justice, and he is ineffable.

Location: chapter 37 of 42 · 88%

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