37 When I hear this, my heart races
and leaps from its place.
² Listen! Listen to the booming thunder of his voice,
to the rumble that goes out from his mouth.
³ He turns it loose across the whole sky,
and his light reaches the ends of the earth.
⁴ After the lightning, a voice roars.
He thunders with his majestic voice.
He does not restrain the lightning.
Then his voice is heard!
⁵ God thunders with his voice in wonderful ways.
He does great things that we do not understand.
⁶ To the snow he says, “Fall on the earth.”
To the pouring rain, the torrential downpours of rain,
    he says, “Be strong.”^[a]
7 He brings an end to all the work of men’s hands,
    so that they recognize his work.
⁸ The wild animals take shelter in their lairs.
They remain in their dens.
⁹ A winter wind comes out from its room,
and driving winds bring icy cold.
¹⁰ The breath of God produces ice.
The wide surface of the water turns solid.
¹¹ Yes, he loads dark clouds with moisture,
and he fills the clouds with his light.
¹² The clouds swirl around at his direction.
They do whatever he commands them
    over the face of the whole inhabited world.
¹³ Whether their purpose is to bring punishment or mercy to the world,
    he makes them achieve their goal.

¹⁴ Listen to this, Job! Stand still and recognize the wonders of God!
¹⁵ Do you know how God arranges them?
Do you know how he makes his light shine out from his clouds?
¹⁶ Do you know how the clouds float in the sky,
    those marvels produced by perfect knowledge?
¹⁷ You, whose clothing is too hot for you
    when the land rests quietly because of the hot south wind,
¹⁸ can you help him spread out the clouds
    when the sky is as hard as a metal mirror?
¹⁹ Teach us what we should say to him!
We are not able to prepare our case because of the darkness.
²⁰ Should he be notified that I want to speak?
Or would a man who said that be swallowed up?

²¹ But no one can look at the sun.
It is too bright when the wind has cleared the sky of the clouds.
²² God’s golden splendor comes from the north.
God is surrounded by awesome majesty.
²³ As for the Almighty, we cannot comprehend him.
He is exalted in power,
but he does not violate justice and great righteousness.
²⁴ Therefore men should revere him,
because he has regard for all those who are wise in heart.^[b]