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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 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.

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.