¹ “This also causes my heart to tremble
    and to leap out of its place.
² Listen to the thunder of God’s voice
    and the rumbling that comes forth from his mouth.
³ He sends it forth across the heavens,
    along with his lightning to the ends of the earth.
⁴ Following this, there comes a roaring sound,
    as God thunders with his majestic voice,
and he does not restrain his flashes of lightning
    when his voice is heard.
⁵ “At God’s command marvels come to pass;
    he performs wonders beyond our ability to comprehend.
⁶ For he says to the snow, ‘Fall upon the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Turn into a heavy downpour.’
⁷ All human activity comes to a standstill
    so that everyone may acknowledge his power.
⁸ Wild beasts return to their lairs
    and take shelter in their dens.
⁹ “The tempest comes out of its chamber,
    and the north winds bring bitter cold.
¹⁰ By the breath of God^[a] ice is formed
    and the surface of the waters becomes frozen.
¹¹ He weighs down the thick clouds with moisture,
    and they scatter his lightning.
¹² Following his command they blow about
    over the face of the entire earth
    to do whatever he directs.
¹³ Whether for correction of his people or for love,
    he causes all this to happen.

¹⁴ “Listen to my words, O Job;
    stop and reflect upon the marvelous works of God.
¹⁵ Do you know how God controls the clouds,
    or how he makes his lightning flash?
¹⁶ Do you know how the clouds are balanced,
    the wondrous work of the one who is perfect in knowledge?
¹⁷ You who swelter in your stifling garments
    when the earth lies still under the south wind,
¹⁸ can you, like him, spread out the skies,
    hard as a mirror of cast metal?^[b]
19 “Teach us, then, what we should say to him;
    because of ignorance, we cannot present our case.
²⁰ Do my words have any effect on him?
    Is he informed of any man’s commands?
²¹ Sometimes the light vanishes,
    and the sky is overcast with clouds;
    then the wind comes and sweeps them away.
^22 [c]“Out of the north golden splendor comes forth,
    and God is surrounded by awesome majesty.
²³ But the Almighty we cannot find;
    he is unequaled in power and judgment,
    and in his righteousness he will not violate justice.
²⁴ Therefore, men revere him,
    and all thoughtful men fear him.”