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37 “The thunder and lightning frighten me;
    my heart pounds in my chest.
Listen to God’s thundering voice!
    Listen to the sound coming from his mouth.
He sends his lightning to flash across the whole sky.
    It lights up the earth from one end to the other.
After the flashes of lightning you can hear his roaring voice.
    He thunders with his wonderful voice!
And while his voice thunders, the lightning flashes continue.
God’s thundering voice is amazing!
    He does great things that we cannot understand.
He says to the snow,
    ‘Fall on the earth.’
And he says to the rain,
    ‘Pour down on the earth.’
God does this to stop everyone’s work
    and to show the people he made what he can do.
The animals run into their dens and stay there.
Whirlwinds come from the south.
    The cold winds come from the north.
10 God’s breath makes ice
    and freezes even large bodies of water.
11 He fills the clouds with water
    and scatters his lightning through them.
12 He orders the clouds to be blown all around the earth.
    The clouds do whatever he commands.
13 He causes the clouds to punish people with floods
    or to water his earth and show his love.

14 “Job, stop for a minute and listen.
    Think about the wonderful things God does.
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds?
    Do you know how he makes his lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds hang in the sky?
    This is just one of the amazing works of the one who knows everything.
17 All you know is that you sweat, your clothes stick to you,
    and all is still and quiet when the heat wave comes from the south.
18 Can you help God spread out the sky
    and make it shine like polished brass?

19 “Job, tell us what we should say to God!
    We cannot think of what to say because of our ignorance.[a]
20 I would not tell God that I wanted to talk to him.
    That would be like asking to be destroyed.
21 A person cannot look at the sun.
    It is too bright as it shines in the sky after the wind blows the clouds away.
22 In the same way God’s golden glory shines from the Holy Mountain.[b]
    He is surrounded by the brightest light.
23 We have seen that God All-Powerful really is all powerful!
    But he is just and never treats anyone unfairly.[c]
24 That is why people fear and respect him.
    He shows no respect for those who think they are wise.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:19 We cannot … ignorance Literally, “We cannot arrange our thoughts because of the darkness.”
  2. Job 37:22 Holy Mountain Or “the north” or “Zaphon.”
  3. Job 37:23 But he … unfairly Or “He does not answer us when we try to sue him for justice.”

37 “At this my heart pounds(A)
    and leaps from its place.
Listen!(B) Listen to the roar of his voice,(C)
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(D)
He unleashes his lightning(E) beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.(F)
After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders(G) with his majestic voice.(H)
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
God’s voice thunders(I) in marvelous ways;(J)
    he does great things beyond our understanding.(K)
He says to the snow,(L) ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(M)
So that everyone he has made may know his work,(N)
    he stops all people from their labor.[a](O)
The animals take cover;(P)
    they remain in their dens.(Q)
The tempest comes out from its chamber,(R)
    the cold from the driving winds.(S)
10 The breath of God produces ice,
    and the broad waters become frozen.(T)
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;(U)
    he scatters his lightning(V) through them.(W)
12 At his direction they swirl around
    over the face of the whole earth
    to do whatever he commands them.(X)
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,(Y)
    or to water his earth and show his love.(Z)

14 “Listen(AA) to this, Job;
    stop and consider God’s wonders.(AB)
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
    and makes his lightning(AC) flash?(AD)
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,(AE)
    those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?(AF)
17 You who swelter in your clothes
    when the land lies hushed under the south wind,(AG)
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,(AH)
    hard as a mirror of cast bronze?(AI)

19 “Tell us what we should say to him;(AJ)
    we cannot draw up our case(AK) because of our darkness.(AL)
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,(AM)
    bright as it is in the skies
    after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;(AN)
    God comes in awesome majesty.(AO)
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;(AP)
    in his justice(AQ) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.(AR)
24 Therefore, people revere him,(AS)
    for does he not have regard for all the wise(AT) in heart?[b]

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
  2. Job 37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.