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37 “At this also my heart trembles
    and leaps out of its place.
Listen, listen to the thunder of his voice
    and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(A)
Under the whole heaven he lets it loose,
    and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
After it his voice roars;
    he thunders with his majestic voice,
    and he does not restrain the lightnings[a] when his voice is heard.(B)
God thunders wondrously with his voice;
    he does great things that we cannot comprehend.(C)
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’;
    and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain,(D)
serves as a sign on everyone’s hand,
    so that all whom he has made may know it.[b](E)
Then the animals go into their lairs
    and remain in their dens.(F)
From its chamber comes the whirlwind
    and cold from the scattering winds.(G)
10 By the breath of God ice is given,
    and the broad waters are frozen fast.(H)
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
    the clouds scatter his lightning.(I)
12 They turn round and round by his guidance
    to accomplish all that he commands them
    on the face of the habitable world.(J)
13 Whether for correction or for his land
    or for love, he causes it to happen.(K)

14 “Hear this, O Job;
    stop and consider the wondrous works of God.(L)
15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them
    and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16 Do you know the balancings of the clouds,
    the wondrous works of the one whose knowledge is perfect,(M)
17 you whose garments are hot
    when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, like him, spread out the skies,
    hard as a molten mirror?(N)
19 Teach us what we shall say to him;
    we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Did anyone ever wish to be swallowed up?
21 Now, no one can look on the light
    when it is bright in the skies,
    when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 Out of the north comes golden splendor;
    around God is awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty[c]—we cannot find him;
    he is great in power and justice,
    and abundant righteousness he will not violate.(O)
24 Therefore mortals fear him;
    he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”(P)

Footnotes

  1. 37.4 Heb them
  2. 37.7 Meaning of Heb of 37.7 uncertain
  3. 37.23 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai

37 “My heart pounds as I think of this.
    It trembles within me.
Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice
    as it rolls from his mouth.
It rolls across the heavens,
    and his lightning flashes in every direction.
Then comes the roaring of the thunder—
    the tremendous voice of his majesty.
    He does not restrain it when he speaks.
God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
    We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.

“He directs the snow to fall on the earth
    and tells the rain to pour down.
Then everyone stops working
    so they can watch his power.
The wild animals take cover
    and stay inside their dens.
The stormy wind comes from its chamber,
    and the driving winds bring the cold.
10 God’s breath sends the ice,
    freezing wide expanses of water.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture,
    and they flash with his lightning.
12 The clouds churn about at his direction.
    They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.
13 He makes these things happen either to punish people
    or to show his unfailing love.

14 “Pay attention to this, Job.
    Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!
15 Do you know how God controls the storm
    and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?
16 Do you understand how he moves the clouds
    with wonderful perfection and skill?
17 When you are sweltering in your clothes
    and the south wind dies down and everything is still,
18 he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror.
    Can you do that?

19 “So teach the rest of us what to say to God.
    We are too ignorant to make our own arguments.
20 Should God be notified that I want to speak?
    Can people even speak when they are confused?[a]
21 We cannot look at the sun,
    for it shines brightly in the sky
    when the wind clears away the clouds.
22 So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God.[b]
    He is clothed in dazzling splendor.
23 We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty;
    but even though he is just and righteous,
    he does not destroy us.
24 No wonder people everywhere fear him.
    All who are wise show him reverence.[c]

Footnotes

  1. 37:20 Or speak without being swallowed up?
  2. 37:22 Or from the north; or from the abode.
  3. 37:24 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads He is not impressed by the wise.