Job 37:1-38:18

New International Version

37 “At this my heart pounds^(A)
    and leaps from its place.
² Listen!^(B) Listen to the roar of his voice,^(C)
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.^(D)
3 He unleashes his lightning^(E) beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.^(F)
4 After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders^(G) with his majestic voice.^(H)
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
⁵ God’s voice thunders^(I) in marvelous ways;^(J)
    he does great things beyond our understanding.^(K)
6 He says to the snow,^(L) ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’^(M)
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,^(N)
    he stops all people from their labor.^[a](O)
8 The animals take cover;^(P)
    they remain in their dens.^(Q)
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber,^(R)
    the cold from the driving winds.^(S)
10 The breath of God produces ice,
    and the broad waters become frozen.^(T)
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;^(U)
    he scatters his lightning^(V) through them.^(W)
12 At his direction they swirl around
    over the face of the whole earth
    to do whatever he commands them.^(X)
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,^(Y)
    or to water his earth and show his love.^(Z)

¹⁴ “Listen^(AA) to this, Job;
    stop and consider God’s wonders.^(AB)
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
    and makes his lightning^(AC) flash?^(AD)
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,^(AE)
    those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?^(AF)
17 You who swelter in your clothes
    when the land lies hushed under the south wind,^(AG)
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,^(AH)
    hard as a mirror of cast bronze?^(AI)

¹⁹ “Tell us what we should say to him;^(AJ)
    we cannot draw up our case^(AK) because of our darkness.^(AL)
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
²¹ Now no one can look at the sun,^(AM)
    bright as it is in the skies
    after the wind has swept them clean.
²² Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;^(AN)
    God comes in awesome majesty.^(AO)
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;^(AP)
    in his justice^(AQ) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.^(AR)
24 Therefore, people revere him,^(AS)
    for does he not have regard for all the wise^(AT) in heart?^[b]”

² “Who is this that obscures my plans^(AW)
    with words without knowledge?^(AX)
3 Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.^(AY)

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?^(AZ)
    Tell me, if you understand.^(BA)
5 Who marked off its dimensions?^(BB) Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line^(BC) across it?
⁶ On what were its footings set,^(BD)
    or who laid its cornerstone^(BE)—
⁷ while the morning stars^(BF) sang together^(BG)
    and all the angels^[c](BH) shouted for joy?^(BI)

⁸ “Who shut up the sea behind doors^(BJ)
    when it burst forth from the womb,^(BK)
9 when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,^(BL)
10 when I fixed limits for it^(BM)
    and set its doors and bars in place,^(BN)
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;^(BO)
    here is where your proud waves halt’?^(BP)

¹² “Have you ever given orders to the morning,^(BQ)
    or shown the dawn its place,^(BR)
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
    and shake the wicked^(BS) out of it?^(BT)
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;^(BU)
    its features stand out like those of a garment.
¹⁵ The wicked are denied their light,^(BV)
    and their upraised arm is broken.^(BW)

¹⁶ “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?^(BX)
17 Have the gates of death^(BY) been shown to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?^(BZ)
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?^(CA)
    Tell me, if you know all this.^(CB)