Job 37

1 “Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.

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

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

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

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

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

4 After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.

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

5 God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.

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

6 For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.

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 all men whom he has made may know it.

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

8 Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.

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

9 Out of its room comes the storm, and cold out of the north.

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

10 By the breath of God, ice is given, and the width of the waters is frozen.

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

11 Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.

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

12 It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,

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

13 whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.

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

14 “Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

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

15 Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?

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

16 Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

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

17 You whose clothing is warm when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

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

18 Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?

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

19 Teach us what we will tell him, for we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.

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

20 Will it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

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

21 Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.

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

22 Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.

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

23 We can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.

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

24 Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”

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