Job 37

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

“At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place.

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

Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.

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

He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth.

4 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.

Then there comes a roaring sound; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds.

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

God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.

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

For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’

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

He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work.

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

The wild animals enter their lairs; they settle down in their dens.

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

The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.

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

By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen.

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

He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them.

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

They swirl about, whirling at His direction, accomplishing all that He commands over the face of all the earth.

13 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.

Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.

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

Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God.

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

Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash?

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

Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?

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

You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind,

18 Will you establish with him [foundations] for the ancient [heavens? they are] strong as a molten mirror.

can you, like Him, spread out the skies to reflect the heat like a mirror of bronze?

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

Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness.

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

Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?

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

Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.

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

Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.

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

The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.

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

Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”