Job 37
1 Aye, my heart trembleth at this also, and leapeth up out of its place:
At this my heart trembles, beating rapidly within me!
2 Hear attentively the roar of his voice, and the murmur going forth from his mouth.
Listen carefully to God's thunderous voice that rumbles as he speaks.
3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
He sends it across the heaven; his lightning flashes to the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency, and holdeth not back the flashes when his voice is heard.
Then comes the roar of thunder, his majestic voice holding nothing back when he speaks.
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice, doing great things which we do not comprehend.
God's thunderous voice is wonderful! We can't comprehend the great things he does!
6 For he saith to the snow, Fall on the earth! and to the pouring rain, even the pouring rains of his might.
He tells the snow to fall and the rain to pour down on the earth.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
By this he stops people working so that everyone can understand what he does.
8 And the wild beast goeth into its lair, and they remain in their dens.
Even the animals take shelter and remain in their dens.
9 From the chamber [of the south] cometh the whirlwind; and cold from the winds of the north.
The south wind blows in storms, while the north wind blows in cold weather.
10 By the breath of God ice is given; and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
God's breath produces ice, freezing the surface of water solid.
11 Also with plentiful moisture he loadeth the thick clouds, his light dispels the cloud;
He fills the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning from them.
12 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,
They swirl around under his control; they move over all the earth as he commands.
13 Whether he cause it to come as a rod, or for his land, or in mercy.
He does this to accomplish his will, either to discipline or to show his goodness.
14 Hearken unto this, Job; stand still and discern the wondrous works of God.
Listen to this, Job! Stop for a moment and consider the wonderful things God does.
15 Dost thou know how God hath disposed them, and how he causeth the lightning of his cloud to flash?
Do you know how God controls the clouds, or makes his lightning flash from them?
16 Dost thou know about the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him that is perfect in knowledge?
Do you know how clouds float in the sky—the wonderful work of him who knows everything.
17 How thy garments become warm when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
You know how your clothes drip with sweat when the south wind brings air that is hot and heavy.
18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, firm, like a molten mirror?
Can you hammer out the sky so it becomes like a molten mirror, as he does?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him! We cannot order [our words] by reason of darkness.
So why don't you teach us what to tell God? We cannot make our case because we are in the dark!
20 Shall it be told him if I would speak? if a man [so] say, surely he shall be swallowed up.
Should God be told that I want to speak? Anyone who wanted to would be destroyed!
21 And now [men] see not the light as it gleameth, it is [hidden] in the skies. But the wind passeth by and cleareth them.
After all, we can't look at the sun when it blazes brightly in the sky, after the wind has cleared away the clouds.
22 From the north cometh gold; with God is terrible majesty.
Out of the north God comes shining like gold, surrounded in awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty, we cannot find him out: excellent in power, and in judgment, and in abundance of justice, he doth not afflict.
We cannot approach the Almighty for he is far beyond us in power and justice, and doing right.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
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.”
