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37 “At the sound of his thunder, my heart pounds.
    It is as if my heart will jump out of my chest.
Listen! Listen to the thunder of God’s voice.
    Listen to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
He turns his lightning loose under the whole sky.
    And he sends it to the farthest parts of the earth.
After that you can hear the roar
    when he thunders with a great sound.
He does not hold back the flashing
    when his voice is heard.
God’s voice thunders in wonderful ways.
    He does great things we cannot understand.
God says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth.’
    And he says to the rain shower, ‘Be a heavy rain.’
With it, God stops everyone from working.
    That way, everyone knows it is the work of God.
The animals take cover from the rain.
    They stay in their dens.
The storm comes from where it was stored.
    The cold comes from the strong winds.
10 The breath of God makes ice.
    And the wide waters become frozen.
11 God fills the clouds up with water.
    And he scatters his lightning through them.
12 At God’s command they swirl around
    over the whole earth.
    They do whatever he commands.
13 God uses the clouds to punish people
    or to water his earth and show his love.

14 “Job, listen to this.
    Stop and notice God’s miracles.
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
    and makes his lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds hang in the sky?
    They are the miracles of God, who knows everything.
17 You suffer in your clothes
    when the land is made quiet by the hot, south wind.
18 You cannot stretch out the sky like God
    and make it look as hard as polished bronze.
19 Tell us what we should say to God.
    We cannot get our arguments ready because we do not have enough understanding.
20 Should God be told that I want to speak?
    A man might try to speak to God, but he would surely be
swallowed up.
21 No one can look at the sun
    when it is bright in the sky
    after the wind has blown all the clouds away.
22 God comes out of the north in golden light.
    He comes in overwhelming greatness.
23 God All-Powerful is too high for us to reach.
    He has great strength.
    He is always right and never punishes unfairly.
24 That is why people honor God.
    He does not respect those who say they are wise.”

37 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

God’s Works and Wisdom

37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
He sends it forth under the whole heaven,
His [a]lightning to the ends of the earth.
After it (A)a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
God thunders marvelously with His voice;
(B)He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
For (C)He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the [b]gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
He seals the hand of every man,
(D)That (E)all men may know His work.
The beasts (F)go into dens,
And remain in their lairs.
From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,
And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 (G)By the breath of God ice is given,
And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
He scatters His [c]bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
That they may (H)do whatever He commands them
On the face of [d]the whole earth.
13 (I)He causes it to come,
Whether for [e]correction,
Or (J)for His land,
Or (K)for mercy.

14 “Listen to this, O Job;
Stand still and (L)consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God [f]dispatches them,
And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 (M)Do you know how the clouds are balanced,
Those wondrous works of (N)Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 Why are your garments hot,
When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 With Him, have you (O)spread out the (P)skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?

19 “Teach us what we should say to Him,
For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak?
If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies,
When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 He comes from the north as golden splendor;
With God is awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, (Q)we cannot find Him;
(R)He is excellent in power,
In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress.
24 Therefore men (S)fear Him;
He shows no partiality to any who are (T)wise of heart.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:3 Or light
  2. Job 37:6 Lit. shower of rain
  3. Job 37:11 clouds of light
  4. Job 37:12 Lit. the world of the earth
  5. Job 37:13 Lit. a rod
  6. Job 37:15 places them