Job 37

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

Indeed, my heart trembles at this; it is moved out of its place.

2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out from his mouth.

3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.

He sends it out under the whole sky, and he sends out his lightning to the edges of the earth.

4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not restrain them when his voice is heard.

A voice roars after it; he thunders with the voice of his majesty; he does not restrain the lightning bolts when his voice is heard.

5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things he doeth, which we cannot comprehend.

God thunders marvelously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.

6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

For he says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth'; likewise to the rain shower, 'Become a great shower of rain.'

7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

He stops the hand of every man from working, so that all people whom he has made may see his deeds.

8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

Then the beasts go into hiding and stay in their dens.

9 From the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold from the north.

The storm comes from its chamber in the south and the cold from the scattering winds in the north.

10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is narrowed.

By the breath of God ice is given; the expanse of the waters is frozen like metal.

11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

Indeed, he weighs down the thick cloud with moisture; he scatters his lightning through the clouds.

12 And it is turned around by his counsels: that they may do whatever he commandeth them upon the face of the world on the earth.

He swirls the clouds around by his guidance, so that they may do whatever he commands them above the surface of the whole world.

13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

He makes all of this happen; sometimes it happens for correction, sometimes for his land, and sometimes as acts of covenant faithfulness.

14 Hearken to this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Listen to this, Job; stop and think about God's marvelous deeds.

15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

Do you know how God establishes the clouds and makes the lightning bolts to flash in them?

16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

Do you understand the floating of the clouds, the marvelous deeds of God, who is perfect in knowledge?

17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

Do you understand how your garments become hot when the land is still because the wind comes from the south?

18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

Can you spread out the sky as he can— the sky, which is as strong as a mirror of cast metal?

19 Teach us what we shall say to him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

Teach us what we should say to him, for we cannot lay out our arguments in order because of the darkness of our minds.

20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man shall speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

Should he be told that I wish to speak with him? Would a person wish to be swallowed up?

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

Now, people cannot look at the sun when it is bright in the sky after the wind has passed through and has cleared it of its clouds.

22 Fair weather cometh from the north: with God is terrible majesty.

Out of the north comes golden splendor— over God is fearsome majesty.

23 As for the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in abundance of justice: he will not afflict.

As for the Almighty, we cannot find him! He is great in power; he does not oppress justice and abundant righteousness.

24 Men therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

Therefore, people fear him. He does not pay any attention to those who are wise in their own minds.”