Job Chapter 37
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
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Then Job answered and said,
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How long will ye vex my soul,
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And break me in pieces with words?
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These ten times have ye reproached me:
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Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.
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And be it indeed that I have erred,
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Mine error remaineth with myself.
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If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me,
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And plead against me my reproach;
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Know now that God hath subverted me
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in my cause,
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And hath compassed me with his net.
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Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard:
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I cry for help, but there is no justice.
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He hath walled up my way that I cannot pass,
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And hath set darkness in my paths.
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He hath stripped me of my glory,
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And taken the crown from my head.
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He hath broken me down on every side, and I am gone;
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And my hope hath he plucked up like a tree.
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He hath also kindled his wrath against me,
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And he counteth me unto him as
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one of his adversaries.
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His troops come on together,
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
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Aye, my heart trembleth at this also, and leapeth up out of its place:
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Hear attentively the roar of his voice, and the murmur going forth from his mouth.
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He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
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After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency, and holdeth not back the flashes when his voice is heard.
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God thundereth marvellously with his voice, doing great things which we do not comprehend.
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For he saith to the snow, Fall on the earth! and to the pouring rain, even the pouring rains of his might.
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He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
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And the wild beast goeth into its lair, and they remain in their dens.
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From the chamber [of the south] cometh the whirlwind; and cold from the winds of the north.
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By the breath ofGod ice is given; and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
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Also with plentiful moisture he loadeth the thick clouds, his light dispels the cloud;
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And they are turned every way by his guidance, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the circuit of the earth,
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Whether he cause it to come as a rod, or for his land, or in mercy.
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Hearken unto this, Job; stand still and discern the wondrous works ofGod.
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Dost thou know howGod hath disposed them, and how he causeth the lightning of his cloud to flash?
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Dost thou know about the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him that is perfect in knowledge?
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How thy garments become warm when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
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Hast thou with him spread out the sky, firm, like a molten mirror?
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Teach us what we shall say unto him! We cannot order [our words] by reason of darkness.
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Shall it be told him if I would speak? if a man [so] say, surely he shall be swallowed up.
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And now [men] see not the light as it gleameth, it is [hidden] in the skies. But the wind passeth by and cleareth them.
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From the north cometh gold; withGod is terrible majesty.
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The Almighty, we cannot find him out: excellent in power, and in judgment, and in abundance of justice, he doth not afflict.
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Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
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At this also my heart is troubled, and moved out of its place.
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Hear thou a report by the anger of the Lord's wrath, and a discourse shall come out of his mouth.
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His dominion is under the whole heaven, and his light is at the extremities of the earth.
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After him shall be a cry with a [loud] voice; he shall thunder with the voice of his excellency, yet he shall not cause men to pass away, for one shall hear his voice.
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The Mighty One shall thunder wonderfully with his voice: for he has done great things which we knew not;
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commanding the snow, Be thou upon the earth, and the stormy rain, and the storm of the showers of his might.
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He seals up the hand of every man, that every man may know his own weakness.
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And the wild beasts come in under the covert, and rest in [their] lair.
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Troubles come on out of the secret chambers, and cold from the mountain-tops.
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And from the breath of the Mighty One he will send frost; and he guides the water in whatever way he pleases.
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And [if] a cloud obscures [what is] precious [to him], his light will disperse the cloud.
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And he will carry round the encircling [clouds] by his governance, to [perform] their works: whatsoever he shall command them,
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this has been appointed by him on the earth, whether for correction, [or] for his land, or if he shall find him [an object] for mercy.
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Hearken to this, O Job: stand still, and be admonished of the power of the Lord.
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We know that God has disposed his works, having made light out of darkness.
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And he knows the divisions of the clouds, and the signal overthrows of the ungodly.
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But thy robe is warm, and there is quiet upon the land.
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Wilt thou establish with him [foundations] for the ancient [heavens? they are] strong as a molten mirror.
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Wherefore teach me, what shall we say to him? and let us cease from saying much.
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Have I a book or a scribe by me, that I may stand and put man to silence?
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But the light is not visible to all: it shines afar off in the heavens, as that which is from him in the clouds.
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From the north [come] the clouds shining like gold: in these great are the glory and honour of the Almighty;
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and we do not find another his equal in strength: [as for] him that judges justly, dost thou not think that he listens?
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Wherefore men shall fear him; and the wise also in heart shall fear him.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
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Super hoc expavit cor meum, et emotum est de loco suo.
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Audite auditionem in terrore vocis eius, et sonum de ore illius procedentem.
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Subter omnes cælos ipse considerat, et lumen illius super terminos terræ.
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Post eum rugiet sonitus, tonabit voce magnitudinis suæ, et non investigabitur, cum audita fuerit vox eius.
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Tonabit Deus in voce sua mirabiliter, qui facit magna et inscrutabilia.
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Qui præcipit nivi ut descendat in terram, et hiemis pluviis, et imbri fortitudinis suæ.
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Qui in manu omnium hominum signat, ut noverint singuli opera sua.
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Ingredietur bestia latibulum, et in antro suo morabitur.
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Ab interioribus egredietur tempestas, et ab Arcturo frigus.
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Flante Deo concrescit gelu, et rursum latissimæ funduntur aquæ.
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Frumentum desiderat nubes, et nubes spargunt lumen suum.
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Quæ lustrant per circuitum, quocumque eas voluntas gubernantis duxerit, ad omne quod præceperit illis super faciem orbis terrarum:
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Sive in una tribu, sive in terra sua, sive in quocumque loco misericordiæ suæ eas iusserit inveniri.
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Ausculta hæc Iob: sta, et considera mirabilia Dei.
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Numquid scis quando præceperit Deus pluviis, ut ostenderent lucem nubium eius?
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Numquid nosti semitas nubium magnas, et perfectas scientias?
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Nonne vestimenta tua calida sunt, cum perflata fuerit terra Austro?
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Tu forsitan cum eo fabricatus es cælos, qui solidissimi quasi ære fusi sunt.
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Ostende nobis quid dicamus illi: nos quippe involvimur tenebris.
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Quis narrabit ei quæ loquor? etiam si locutus fuerit homo, devorabitur.
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At nunc non vident lucem: subito aer cogetur in nubes, et ventus transiens fugabit eas.
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Ab Aquilone aurum venit, et ad Deum formidolosa laudatio.
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Digne eum invenire non possumus: magnus fortitudine, et iudicio, et iustitia et enarrari non potest.
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Ideo timebunt eum viri, et non audebunt contemplari omnes, qui sibi videntur esse sapientes.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
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“Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.
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Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.
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He sends it out under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.
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After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.
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God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.
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For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.
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He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.
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Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.
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Out of its room comes the storm, and cold out of the north.
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By the breath of God, ice is given, and the width of the waters is frozen.
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Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
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It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,
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whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.
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“Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
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Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
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Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
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You whose clothing is warm when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?
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Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?
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Teach us what we will tell him, for we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.
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Will it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
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Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.
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Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.
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We can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.
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Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
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Also, at this my heart trembleth, And it moveth from its place.
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Hearken diligently to the trembling of His voice, Yea, the sound from His mouth goeth forth.
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Under the whole heavens He directeth it, And its light <FI>is<Fi> over the skirts of the earth.
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After it roar doth a voice--He thundereth with the voice of His excellency, And He doth not hold them back, When His voice is heard.
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God thundereth with His voice wonderfully, Doing great things and we know not.
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For to snow He saith, `Be <FI>on<Fi> the earth.' And the small rain and great rain of His power.
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Into the hand of every man he sealeth, For the knowledge by all men of His work.
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And enter doth the beast into covert, And in its habitations it doth continue.
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From the inner chamber cometh a hurricane, And from scatterings winds--cold,
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From the breath of God is frost given, And the breadth of waters is straitened,
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Yea, by filling He doth press out a cloud, Scatter a cloud doth His light.
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And it is turning itself round by His counsels, For their doing all He commandeth them, On the face of the habitable earth.
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Whether for a rod, or for His land, Or for kindness--He doth cause it to come.
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Hear this, O Job, Stand and consider the wonders of God.
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Dost thou know when God doth place them, And caused to shine the light of His cloud?
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Dost thou know the balancings of a cloud? The wonders of the Perfect in knowledge?
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How thy garments <FI>are<Fi> warm, In the quieting of the earth from the south?
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Thou hast made an expanse with Him For the clouds--strong as a hard mirror!
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Let us know what we say to Him, We set not in array because of darkness.
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Is it declared to Him that I speak? If a man hath spoken, surely he is swallowed up.
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And now, they have not seen the light, Bright it <FI>is<Fi> in the clouds, And the wind hath passed by and cleanseth them.
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From the golden north it cometh, Beside God <FI>is<Fi> fearful honour.
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The Mighty! we have not found Him out, High in power and judgment, He doth not answer! And abundant in righteousness,
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Therefore do men fear Him, He seeth not any of the wise of heart.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).