37 My heart(A) pounds at this
and leaps from my chest.[a]
Just listen to his thunderous voice
and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
He lets it loose beneath the entire sky;
his lightning to the ends(B) of the earth.

Then there comes a roaring sound;
God thunders(C) with his majestic voice.
He does not restrain the lightning
when his rumbling voice is heard.
God thunders wondrously with his voice;
he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
For he says to the snow,(D) “Fall to the earth,”
and the torrential rains, his mighty torrential rains,
serve as his sign to all mankind,
so that all men may know his work.
The wild animals enter their lairs
and stay in their dens.(E)
The windstorm comes from its chamber,
and the cold from the driving north winds.
10 Ice is formed by the breath of God,(F)
and watery expanses are frozen.
11 He saturates clouds with moisture;(G)
he scatters his lightning through them.
12 They swirl about,
turning round and round at his direction,
accomplishing everything he commands them
over the surface of the inhabited world.
13 He causes this to happen for punishment,
for his land, or for his faithful love.

14 Listen to this, Job.
Stop and consider God’s wonders.
15 Do you know how God directs his clouds
or makes their lightning flash?
16 Do you understand how the clouds float,
those wonderful works of him who has perfect knowledge?
17 You whose clothes get hot
when the south wind brings calm to the land,
18 can you help God spread out the skies
as hard as a cast metal mirror?
19 Teach us what we should say to him;(H)
we cannot prepare our case because of our darkness.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
Can a man speak when he is confused?
21 Now no one can even look at the sun
after a wind has swept through and cleared the sky.
22 Out of the north he comes, shrouded in a golden glow;
awesome(I) majesty surrounds him.
23 The Almighty—we cannot reach him—
he is exalted in power!
He will not violate justice and abundant righteousness,
24 therefore, men fear him.
He does not look favorably on any who are wise(J) in heart.

Footnotes

  1. 37:1 Lit from its place

37 Oh, my mind is disturbed by this
    and is more troubled than usual.
Listen closely to the rumble of his voice,
    the roar issuing from his mouth.
He looses it under the whole sky,
    his lightning on earth’s edges.
After it, a voice roars;
    he thunders with a mighty voice,
    and no one can stop it
    when his voice is heard.
God roars with his wondrous voice;
    he does great things we can’t know.
He says to the snow, “Fall to earth,”
    and to the downpour of rain, “Be a mighty shower.”
He stamps the hand of every person
    so all can know his work.[a]
The wild beast enters its lair,
    lies down in its den.
The storm comes from its chamber,
    the cold from the north wind.
10 By God’s breath ice forms;
    water’s expanse becomes solid.
11 He also fills clouds with moisture;
    his lightning scatters clouds.
12 He overturns the circling clouds;[b]
    by his guidance they do[c] their work,
    doing everything he commands over the entire earth.
13 Whether for punishment, for his world,
        or for kindness,
    God makes it all happen.

14 Hear this, Job;
    stop and ponder God’s mighty deeds.
15 Do you realize that when God commands them,
    his clouds produce lightning?
16 Do you understand the positioning of the clouds,
    the amazing deeds of one with perfect knowledge,
17 you whose clothes are hot
    when earth is calmed by the south wind?
18 Can you form the sky with him,
    hard like a mirror made of metal?
19 Tell us what we should say to him;
    we can’t present our case due to darkness.
20 Should someone inform him that I wish to speak,
    or would anyone say he wants to be devoured?

Divine splendor

21 For now, no one can look at the sun;
    it is bright in the sky;
        the wind has passed and cleared away the clouds.
22 From the north comes golden light,
    the awesome splendor of God.
23 As for the Almighty, we can’t find him—
    he is powerful and just, abundantly righteous—
    he won’t respond.
24 Therefore, people fear him;
    none of the wise[d] can see him.

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:7 Or that everyone he has made can know it
  2. Job 37:12 Heb uncertain
  3. Job 37:12 Heb lacks they do.
  4. Job 37:24 Or wise in heart; cf 9:4