37 “At this my heart pounds(A)
    and leaps from its place.
Listen!(B) Listen to the roar of his voice,(C)
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(D)
He unleashes his lightning(E) beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.(F)
After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders(G) with his majestic voice.(H)
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
God’s voice thunders(I) in marvelous ways;(J)
    he does great things beyond our understanding.(K)
He says to the snow,(L) ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(M)
So that everyone he has made may know his work,(N)
    he stops all people from their labor.[a](O)
The animals take cover;(P)
    they remain in their dens.(Q)
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]

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
  2. Job 37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.

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