Job 37:12-13

37:12 The clouds ¹  go round in circles,

wheeling about according to his plans,

to carry out ²  all that he commands them

over the face of the whole inhabited world.

37:13 Whether it is for punishment ³  for his land,

or whether it is for mercy,

he causes it to find its mark. ⁴ 

[37:12]  ¹ tn The words “the clouds” are supplied from v. 11; the sentence itself actually starts: “and it goes round,” referring to the cloud.

[37:12]  ² tn Heb “that it may do.”

[37:13]  ³ tn Heb “rod,” i.e., a rod used for punishment.

[37:13]  ⁴ tn This is interpretive; Heb “he makes find it.” The lightning could be what is intended here, for it finds its mark. But R. Gordis (Job, 429) suggests man is the subject – let him find what it is for, i.e., the fate appropriate for him.