For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
The above is Job 31:23, where the LORD began today, the last chapter of Job’s complaint. Exploring it, following His leading, the LORD’s, He reveals the meaning and purpose of the moment we are living. As we know, the name Job means hated and represents God’s people, as now, when they’ve reached a time when they’ve lost everything and find themselves in great tribulation. They, as does Job, go about trying to prove their own righteousness and fail to recognize God’s righteousness in the work He’s doing. As we know, Job brings out the unrighteousness of others as they falsely accuse Him of being the cause of his problems. Job, not really remembering who God is, has heard about Him but never really experienced Him with understanding.
Job does what Paul describes, in Romans 10, as having a zeal for God but not according to knowledge and therefore going about trying to prove his righteousness, rather than submitting to the righteousness of God. We’ve seen this is speaking of the men, the leaders of God’s people, preachers and politicians, who are trying to prove their ways and ideas are correct, righteous, rather than seeing God is correct, correcting us into His righteousness and bringing down every thought that is exalted against Him.
2 Corinthians 10
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do you look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
Romans 10 begins by telling of God’s purpose to save all His people, through His teaching and right leading, correct knowledge added to their zeal.
Romans 10
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is [all God’s people is], that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant [in darkness] of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.
5 For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law [which turns his written word into law, not realizing it comes through the mouth of man, the words of His mouth], That the man which does those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what says it? The word is nigh you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach [this word that you see and hear, who is Christ in us speaking];
9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the LORD Jesus [the LORD, Jehovah’s salvation perSONified in us], and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.
10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, LORD, who has believed our report?
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes truly, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses says, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20 But Isaiah is very bold, and says, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
As we know, the passage above that speaks of where we find Christ, is quoted from Deuteronomy 30 when the LORD is speaking through Moses, telling His people his (Moses’) words are His. He says that by those words, by believing and confessing they are not only His words, but His presence and salvation personified.
Deuteronomy 30
10 If you shall hearken unto the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if you turn unto the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul.
11 For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off.
12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
14 But the word is very nigh unto you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it.
15 See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil;
16 In that I command you this day to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that you may live and multiply: and the LORD your God shall bless you in the land whither you go to possess it.
17 But if your heart turn away, so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
18 I denounce unto you this day, that you shall surely perish, and that you shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither you pass over Jordan [when we cross {into life} over the words of men, the bad advice and corrupt thinking that misleads into death all who follow it] to go to possess it [life in this promised land].
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live:
20 That you may love the LORD your God, and that you may obey his voice, and that you may cleave unto him: for he is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
The LORD continues describing this, and then in ending chapter 31 tells Moses to gather all the elders (leaders) of His people and tells them of this ending, in this latter-day when He calls heaven and earth to record against them.
Deuteronomy 31
26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.
27 For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?
28 Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.
29 For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.
30 And Moses spoke in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.
Deuteronomy 32
1 Give ear, O you heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe you greatness unto our God.
4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.
6 Do you thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he your father that has bought you? has he not made you, and established you?
7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you.
8 When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
9 For the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness [midbar – the open mouths of men opposing God’s right leading]; he led him about, he instructed him [by His word from Moses], he kept him as the apple of his eye.
11 As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, taketh them, bears them on her wings:
12 So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;
14 Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and you did drink the pure blood of the grape.
15 But Jeshurun [God’s people in prosperity – as we were before it ended, and it is the enemy’s intention to end it forever] waxed fat, and kicked: you are waxen fat, you are grown thick, you are covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
17 They sacrificed unto devils [misleaders who put themselves in God’s place, liars saying they are saving us by destroying us], not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
18 Of the Rock [Christ, from who God’s word flows] that begat you you are unmindful, and have forgotten God that formed you.
19 And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation [a generation that has twisted and perverted all truth], children in whom is no faith [in God, and instead they put their faith in the gods of this world, who cannot save].
21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
23 I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.
24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.
25 The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
26 I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:
27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD has not done all this.
28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
31 For their rock [the misleaders and their misleading words] is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom [burning], and of the fields of Gomorrah [ruin]: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:
33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?
35 To me belongs vengeance and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
36 For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.
37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.
39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live forever.
41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.
42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.
43 Rejoice, O you nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.
44 And Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea [Joshua, Jesus, Jehovah’s word in His deliverer] the son of Nun [meaning fish and posterity, meaning in him is the life in the water, his word of God, who is the heir to Moses].
45 And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel:
46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land, whither you go over Jordan to possess it [now, when we pass over the words of misleading men, which have led all the world into the shadow of death looming over it].
The point of recognizing and confessing this word is the LORD’s presence is His salvation, which comes with the destruction (perdition) of these misleaders: unseating the gods of this world, devils who’ve exalted themselves into God’s place. This is what is occurring in Job, who comes to the same realization and salvation.
As we’ve previously seen, Elihu, meaning he is God (yet unknown, in man speaking), appears in beginning Job 32 and speaks through to the end of chapter 37 describing the ways and plan of God. In chapter 38 the LORD appears, which is Job realizing it’s Him speaking, and telling of His purpose to bring understanding as the morning light and the dayspring. He says it is “That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?” He then says this is His seal, the mark that identifies Him.
Job’s perfection is revealed when in the final chapter he says, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear: but now my eye sees You.” This is the difference between hearing about the LORD and seeing Him who is only seen by understanding, which is His seal, His mark on those who are His.
Ezekiel 9
1 He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lies toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar.
3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;
4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go you after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have you pity:
6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go you forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah LORD God! will you destroy all the residue of Israel in your pouring out of your fury upon Jerusalem?
9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD has forsaken the earth, and the LORD sees not.
10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as you have commanded me.
Ezekiel 10
1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament [where the word of God is separated from the words of man] that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
2 And he spoke unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill your hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory.
5 And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaks.
Friends, as we know, the wheels Ezekiel is speaking of are God’s written, wherein are contained patterns, reserved there unknown, sent forward through time. In the LORD’s time, and for His purpose (salvation), He reveals them as His signature, which identifies Him and those who are His. In Ezekiel, this occurs from His throne, the mercy seat, above which are the cherubims, and between which are the wheels, the written and spoken word of God. Here the throne is the Ark of the Testament, where Moses was told to put the book, and wherein it was carried wherever God’s people went. It is also where God’s voice is heard, when He reveals it to His people.
When Job 32:32 says “Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, the names say, He is God by bending his knee to God and he has contempt for those who exalt themselves (meaning he, Elihu, has no other god above God – see Job 32: 21 & 22 below). The name Buzite is from the eleven times used Hebrew word buwz, which (in Job) only appears in Job 31:34 and Job 12:5 & 21. It is rendered both “despised” and “contempt” in describing what is later seen in the work of God through Elihu.
Job 12
2 No doubt but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you [the fall into darkness and sleep].
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knows not such things as these?
4 I am as one mocked of his neighbor, who calls upon God, and he answers him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
5 He that is ready to slip [in due time – see Deuteronomy 32:35 above] with his feet is as a lamp [light, understanding mocked and] despised [buwz] in the thought of him that is at ease.
6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings abundantly.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you:
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto you.
9 Who know not in all these that the hand of the LORD has wrought this [brought His word to light, to shake the wicked and the proud from their seats of power]?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
11 Does not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.
14 Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again: he shut up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 Behold, he withholds the waters [His word and understanding], and they dry up: also he sends them [His waters] out, and they overturn the earth.
16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 He leads counselors away spoiled, and makes the judges fools.
18 He looses the bond of kings, and girds their loins with a girdle.
19 He leads princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty.
20 He removes away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
21 He pours contempt [buwz] upon princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty.
22 He discovers deep things out of darkness [hidden in ignorance], and brings out to light the shadow of death.
23 He increases the nations, and destroys them: he enlarges the nations, and straiten them again.
24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Job 31
34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt [buwz] of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door [that I hid inside my house]?
35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me [which He does in the next chapter, through Elihu], and that mine adversary had written a book [as the LORD has, through His writers].
36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me [as do those who bend their knee and have no gods above God].
37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley [as they have]. The words of Job are ended.
Job 32
1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
19 Behold, my belly is as wine which has no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
Job 33
1 Wherefore, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up.
6 Behold, I am according to your wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
8 Surely you have spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.
12 Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against him? for he gives not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbering upon the bed;
16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draws near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness:
24 Then he is gracious unto him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favorable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
27 He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 Lo, all these things works God oftentimes with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, hearken unto me: hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom.
From several previous posts: “The word ‘wilderness’ is the Hebrew word midbar, which is from the word dabar. ‘As we know, the sword is this word of God, which is the sword we take up, and the famine is without the word from His mouth, by which only does man live. The word ‘pestilence’ is from the Hebrew word deber, meaning words of destruction (the bad advice that leads to it). It is from the word dabar, meaning an arrangement of words, when from God (as in debiyr and Deborah) an oracle, as in a systematic ordering, His plan (the opposite of deber: a contrived plot to destroy).’ ‘Friends, the plot to destroy us isn’t a virus, it is the contrivance of men. The LORD has taken this virus as a crown of thorns upon His head, which the LORD has used for His glory and the enemies’ destruction'”
Psalms 107
1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness [midbar] in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the Most High:
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he has broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18 Their soul abhors all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses.
20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distresses.
29 He makes the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he brings them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 He turns rivers into a wilderness [midbar], and the water-springs into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He turns the wilderness [midbar] into a standing water, and dry ground into water-springs.
36 And there he makes the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38 He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffers not their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40 He pours contempt [buwz] upon princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness [tohuw – the place that’s become “without form” and void], where there is no way.
41 Yet sets he the poor on high from affliction, and makes him families like a flock.
42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
