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27 For he draws up the drops of water,
    which distill in rain from his vapor,
28 which the skies pour down
    and which drop on man abundantly.
29 Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds,
    and the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Behold, he spreads his light around him.
    He covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these he judges the people.
    He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning,
    and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its noise tells about him,
    and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.

37 “Yes, at this my heart trembles,
    and is moved out of its place.
Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice,
    the sound that goes out of his mouth.
He sends it out under the whole sky,
    and his lightning to the ends of the earth.
After it a voice roars.
    He thunders with the voice of his majesty.
    He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.
God thunders marvelously with his voice.
    He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.
For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    likewise to the shower of rain,
    and to the showers of his mighty rain.
He seals up the hand of every man,
    that all men whom he has made may know it.
Then the animals take cover,
    and remain in their dens.
Out of its room comes the storm,
    and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God, ice is given,
    and the width of the waters is frozen.
11 Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture.
    He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
12 It is turned around by his guidance,
    that they may do whatever he commands them
    on the surface of the habitable world,
13 Whether it is for correction, or for his land,
    or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.

27 He draws up the water vapor
    and then distills it into rain.
28 The rain pours down from the clouds,
    and everyone benefits.
29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds
    and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?
30 See how he spreads the lightning around him
    and how it lights up the depths of the sea.
31 By these mighty acts he nourishes[a] the people,
    giving them food in abundance.
32 He fills his hands with lightning bolts
    and hurls each at its target.
33 The thunder announces his presence;
    the storm announces his indignant anger.[b]

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.

Footnotes

  1. 36:31 Or he governs.
  2. 36:33 Or even the cattle know when a storm is coming. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.