Add parallel Print Page Options

37 The storm makes my heart beat wildly.
Listen, all of you, to the voice of God,
    to the thunder that comes from his mouth.
He sends the lightning across the sky,
    from one end of the earth to the other.
Then the roar of his voice is heard,
    the majestic sound of thunder,
    and all the while the lightning flashes.
At God's command amazing things happen,
    wonderful things that we can't understand.
He commands snow to fall on the earth,
    and sends torrents of drenching rain.
He brings our work to a stop;
    he shows us what he can do.[a]
The wild animals go to their dens.
The storm winds come from the south,
    and the biting cold from the north.
10 The breath of God freezes the waters,
    and turns them to solid ice.
11 Lightning flashes from the clouds,[b]
12     as they move at God's will.
They do all that God commands,
    everywhere throughout the world.
13 God sends rain to water the earth;
    he may send it to punish us,
    or to show us his favor.

14 Pause a moment, Job, and listen;
    consider the wonderful things God does.
15 Do you know how God gives the command
    and makes lightning flash from the clouds?
16 Do you know how clouds float in the sky,
    the work of God's amazing skill?
17 No, you can only suffer in the heat
    when the south wind oppresses the land.
18 Can you help God stretch out the sky
    and make it as hard as polished metal?
19 Teach us what to say to God;
    our minds are blank; we have nothing to say.
20 I won't ask to speak with God;
    why should I give him a chance to destroy me?

21 And now the light in the sky is dazzling,
    too bright for us to look at it;
    and the sky has been swept clean by the wind.
22 A golden glow is seen in the north,
    and the glory of God fills us with awe.
23 God's power is so great that we cannot come near him;
    he is righteous and just in his dealings with us.
24 No wonder, then, that everyone is awed by him,
    and that he ignores those who claim to be wise.

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:7 One ancient translation us what he can do; Hebrew this to those whom he has made.
  2. Job 37:11 Verse 11 in Hebrew is unclear.

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.