Job 37
1 “At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place.
At this also my heart trembles, and is moved out of his place.
2 Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goes out of his mouth.
3 He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth.
He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4 Then there comes a roaring sound; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds.
After it a voice roars: he thunders with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5 God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.
God thunders marvellously with his voice; great things does he, which we cannot comprehend.
6 For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’
For he says to the snow, Be you on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7 He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work.
He seals up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8 The wild animals enter their lairs; they settle down in their dens.
Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9 The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.
Out of the south comes the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen.
By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them.
Also by watering he wearies the thick cloud: he scatters his bright cloud:
12 They swirl about, whirling at His direction, accomplishing all that He commands over the face of all the earth.
And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commands them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13 Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.
He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
14 Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God.
Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash?
Do you know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16 Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17 You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
How your garments are warm, when he stills the earth by the south wind?
18 can you, like Him, spread out the skies to reflect the heat like a mirror of bronze?
Have you with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19 Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness.
Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20 Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?
Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21 Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passes, and cleanses them.
22 Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.
Fair weather comes out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.
Concerning 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 Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”
Men do therefore fear him: he respects not any that are wise of heart.
