Job 37

Living Bible

37 “My heart trembles at this. ² Listen, listen to the thunder of his voice. ³ It rolls across the heavens and his lightning flashes out in every direction. ⁴ Afterwards comes the roaring of the thunder—the tremendous voice of his majesty. ⁵ His voice is glorious in the thunder. We cannot comprehend the greatness of his power. ⁶ For he directs the snow, the showers, and storm to fall upon the earth. ⁷ Man’s work stops at such a time so that all men everywhere may recognize his power. ⁸ The wild animals hide in the rocks or in their dens.

⁹ “From the south comes the rain; from the north, the cold. ¹⁰ God blows upon the rivers, and even the widest torrents freeze. ¹¹ He loads the clouds with moisture, and they send forth his lightning. ¹² The lightning bolts are directed by his hand and do whatever he commands throughout the earth. ¹³ He sends the storms^[a] as punishment or, in his loving-kindness, to encourage.

¹⁴ “Listen, O Job, stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God. ¹⁵ Do you know how God controls all nature and causes the lightning to flash forth from the clouds? ^16-17 Do you understand the balancing of the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill? Do you know why you become warm when the south wind is blowing and everything is still? ¹⁸ Can you spread out the gigantic mirror of the skies as he does?

^19-20 “You who think you know so much,^[b] teach the rest of us how we should approach God. For we are too dull to know! With your wisdom, would we then dare to approach him? Well, does a man wish to be swallowed alive? ²¹ For as we cannot look at the sun for its brightness when the winds have cleared away the clouds, ²² neither can we gaze at the terrible majesty of God breaking forth upon us from heaven, clothed in dazzling splendor. ²³ We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty, and yet he is so just and merciful that he does not destroy us. ²⁴ No wonder men everywhere fear him! For he is not impressed by the world’s wisest men!”