27 For he makes waterdrops evaporate;[a]
they distill the rain into its[b] mist,(A)
28 which the clouds pour out
and shower abundantly on mankind.
29 Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out
or how the thunder roars from God’s pavilion?(B)
30 See how he spreads his lightning(C) around him
and covers the depths of the sea.
31 For he judges the nations with these;
he gives food in abundance.(D)
32 He covers his hands with lightning
and commands it to hit its mark.
33 The[c] thunder declares his presence;[d]
the cattle also, the approaching storm.

37 My heart(E) pounds at this
and leaps from my chest.[e]
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(F) of the earth.

Then there comes a roaring sound;
God thunders(G) 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,(H) “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.(I)
The windstorm comes from its chamber,
and the cold from the driving north winds.
10 Ice is formed by the breath of God,(J)
and watery expanses are frozen.
11 He saturates clouds with moisture;(K)
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.

Footnotes

  1. 36:27 Lit he draws in waterdrops
  2. 36:27 Or his
  3. 36:33 Lit His, or Its
  4. 36:33 Lit thunder announces concerning him or it
  5. 37:1 Lit from its place

27 For he draws up the drops of water;
    he distills[a] his mist in rain,(A)
28 which the skies pour down
    and drop upon mortals abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
    the thunderings of his pavilion?(B)
30 See, he scatters his lightning around him
    and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by these he governs peoples;
    he gives food in abundance.(C)
32 He covers his hands with the lightning
    and commands it to strike the mark.(D)
33 Its crashing[b] tells about him;
    he is jealous[c] with anger against iniquity.(E)

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.(F)
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[d] when his voice is heard.(G)
God thunders wondrously with his voice;
    he does great things that we cannot comprehend.(H)
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’;
    and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain,(I)
serves as a sign on everyone’s hand,
    so that all whom he has made may know it.[e](J)
Then the animals go into their lairs
    and remain in their dens.(K)
From its chamber comes the whirlwind
    and cold from the scattering winds.(L)
10 By the breath of God ice is given,
    and the broad waters are frozen fast.(M)
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
    the clouds scatter his lightning.(N)
12 They turn round and round by his guidance
    to accomplish all that he commands them
    on the face of the habitable world.(O)
13 Whether for correction or for his land
    or for love, he causes it to happen.(P)

Footnotes

  1. 36.27 Cn: Heb they distill
  2. 36.33 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  3. 36.33 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  4. 37.4 Heb them
  5. 37.7 Meaning of Heb of 37.7 uncertain