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37 “At this also my heart trembles
    and moves out of its place.
Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
    and the sound that goes out of His mouth.
He lets it loose under the whole heaven,
    and His lightning unto the ends of the earth.
After it 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;
    He does great things that we cannot comprehend.
For He says to the snow, ‘Come on the earth,’
    likewise to the gentle rain and to the heavy rain of His strength.
He seals 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 comes the whirlwind,
    and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given,
    and the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also He loads the thick clouds with moisture;
    He scatters His bright clouds,
12 and they are turned about by His guidance,
    that they may do whatever He commands them
    upon the face of the inhabited earth.
13 He causes it to come, whether for correction,
    or for His land or for mercy.

14 “Listen to this, Job; stand still
    and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God dispatches them
    and causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced,
    the wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 How your garments are warm,
    when He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 Have you, with Him, spread out the sky,
    which is strong and is like a molded mirror?

19 “Teach us what we will say to Him,
    for we cannot prepare our speech because of the darkness.
20 Will it be told Him that I speak?
    If a man speaks, surely he will be swallowed up.
21 Now men do not see the bright light
    which is in the clouds,
    but the wind passes and cleanses them.
22 Fair weather comes out of the north;
    with God is terrible majesty.
23 Concerning the Almighty, we cannot find Him out;
    He is excellent in power, and in judgment,
    and in much righteousness He will not oppress.
24 Men therefore fear Him;
    He shows no partiality to those who are wise in heart.”

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.