Job 37

1 At this my heart trembles, beating rapidly within me!

At this also my heart is troubled, and moved out of its place.

2 Listen carefully to God's thunderous voice that rumbles as he speaks.

Hear thou a report by the anger of the Lord's wrath, and a discourse shall come out of his mouth.

3 He sends it across the heaven; his lightning flashes to the ends of the earth.

His dominion is under the whole heaven, and his light is at the extremities of the earth.

4 Then comes the roar of thunder, his majestic voice holding nothing back when he speaks.

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.

5 God's thunderous voice is wonderful! We can't comprehend the great things he does!

The Mighty One shall thunder wonderfully with his voice: for he has done great things which we knew not;

6 He tells the snow to fall and the rain to pour down on the earth.

commanding the snow, Be thou upon the earth, and the stormy rain, and the storm of the showers of his might.

7 By this he stops people working so that everyone can understand what he does.

He seals up the hand of every man, that every man may know his own weakness.

8 Even the animals take shelter and remain in their dens.

And the wild beasts come in under the covert, and rest in [their] lair.

9 The south wind blows in storms, while the north wind blows in cold weather.

Troubles come on out of the secret chambers, and cold from the mountain-tops.

10 God's breath produces ice, freezing the surface of water solid.

And from the breath of the Mighty One he will send frost; and he guides the water in whatever way he pleases.

11 He fills the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning from them.

And [if] a cloud obscures [what is] precious [to him], his light will disperse the cloud.

12 They swirl around under his control; they move over all the earth as he commands.

And he will carry round the encircling [clouds] by his governance, to [perform] their works: whatsoever he shall command them,

13 He does this to accomplish his will, either to discipline or to show his goodness.

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.

14 Listen to this, Job! Stop for a moment and consider the wonderful things God does.

Hearken to this, O Job: stand still, and be admonished of the power of the Lord.

15 Do you know how God controls the clouds, or makes his lightning flash from them?

We know that god has disposed his works, having made light out of darkness.

16 Do you know how clouds float in the sky—the wonderful work of him who knows everything.

And he knows the divisions of the clouds, and the signal overthrows of the ungodly.

17 You know how your clothes drip with sweat when the south wind brings air that is hot and heavy.

But thy robe is warm, and there is quiet upon the land.

18 Can you hammer out the sky so it becomes like a molten mirror, as he does?

Wilt thou establish with him [foundations] for the ancient [heavens? they are] strong as a molten mirror.

19 So why don't you teach us what to tell God? We cannot make our case because we are in the dark!

Wherefore teach me, what shall we say to him? and let us cease from saying much.

20 Should God be told that I want to speak? Anyone who wanted to would be destroyed!

Have I a book or a scribe my me, that I may stand and put man to silence?

21 After all, we can't look at the sun when it blazes brightly in the sky, after the wind has cleared away the clouds.

But the light is not visible to all: it shines afar off in the heavens, as that which is from him in the clouds.

22 Out of the north God comes shining like gold, surrounded in awesome majesty.

From the [north] come the clouds shining like gold: in these great are the glory and honour of the Almighty;

23 We cannot approach the Almighty for he is far beyond us in power and justice, and doing right.

and we do not find another his equal in strength: [as for] him that judges justly, dost thou not think that he listens?

24 He does not act like a tyrant—no wonder people are in awe of him, though he does not value those who think they're wise.”

Wherefore men shall fear him; and the wise also in heart shall fear him.