Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

² The Lord is my rock and my place of safety. He is the God who saves me.
    My God is my rock. I go to him for safety.
    He is like a shield to me. He’s the power that saves me. He’s my place of safety.
³ I called out to the Lord. He is worthy of praise.
    He saved me from my enemies.

⁴ The ropes of death were almost wrapped around me.
    A destroying flood swept over me.
⁵ The ropes of the grave were tight around me.
    Death set its trap in front of me.
⁶ When I was in trouble, I called out to the Lord.
    I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice.
    My cry for help reached his ears.

⁷ The earth trembled and shook.
    The base of the mountains rocked back and forth.
    It trembled because the Lord was angry.
⁸ Smoke came out of his nose.
    Flames of fire came out of his mouth.
    Burning coals blazed out of it.
⁹ He opened the heavens and came down.
    Dark clouds were under his feet.
¹⁰ He stood on the cherubim and flew.
    The wings of the wind lifted him up.
¹¹ He covered himself with darkness.
    The dark rain clouds of the sky were like a tent around him.
¹² Clouds came out of the brightness that was all around him.
    They came with hailstones and flashes of lightning.
¹³ The Lord thundered from heaven.
    The voice of the Most High God was heard.
¹⁴ He shot his arrows and scattered our enemies.
    He sent great flashes of lightning and chased the enemies away.
¹⁵ The bottom of the sea could be seen.
    The foundations of the earth were uncovered.
Lord, it happened when your anger blazed out.
    It came like a blast of breath from your nose.

¹⁶ He reached down from heaven. He took hold of me.
    He lifted me out of deep waters.
¹⁷ He saved me from my powerful enemies.
    He set me free from those who were too strong for me.
¹⁸ They opposed me when I was in trouble.
    But the Lord helped me.
¹⁹ He brought me out into a wide and safe place.
    He saved me because he was pleased with me.

²⁷ “He makes mist rise from the water.
    Then it falls as rain into the streams.
²⁸ The clouds pour down their moisture.
    Rain showers fall on people everywhere.
²⁹ Who can understand how God spreads out the clouds?
    Who can explain how he thunders from his home in heaven?
³⁰ See how he scatters his lightning around him!
    He lights up the deepest parts of the ocean.
³¹ The rain he sends makes things grow for the nations.
    He provides them with plenty of food.
³² He holds lightning bolts in his hands.
    He commands them to strike their marks.
³³ His thunder announces that a storm is coming.
    Even the cattle let us know it’s approaching.

¹⁴ “Job, listen to me.
    Stop and think about the wonderful things God does.
¹⁵ Do you know how he controls the clouds?
    Do you understand how he makes his lightning flash?
¹⁶ Do you know how the clouds stay up in the sky?
    Do you understand the wonders of the God who has perfect knowledge?
¹⁷ Even your clothes are too hot for you
    when the land lies quiet under the south wind.
¹⁸ Can you help God spread out the skies?
    They are as hard as a mirror
    that’s made out of bronze.

¹⁹ “Job, tell us what we should say to God.
    We can’t prepare our case
    because our minds are dark.
²⁰ Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Would anyone ask to be destroyed by him?
²¹ No one can look at the sun.
    It’s too bright after the wind has swept the skies clean.
²² Out of the north, God comes in his shining glory.
    He comes in all his wonderful majesty.
²³ We can’t reach up to the Mighty One.
    He is lifted high because of his power.
Everything he does is fair and right.
    So he doesn’t crush people.
²⁴ That’s why they have respect for him.
    He cares about all those who are wise.”