Job 37
1 “At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place.
At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved upward out of its place.
2 Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
Hear, O hear, the rattling of his thunder, and the storm's roar that goeth out of his mouth.
3 He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth.
Under the whole heavens he letteth it loose, and his lightning over 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.
Behind it roareth the thunder; he thundereth with his majestic voice; and he holdeth them not back when his voice is heard.
5 God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.
God thundereth with his marvelous voice: he doth great things, 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 to the snow he saith, Be thou on the earth: likewise the pouring rain, and to the pouring rains of his strength.
7 He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work.
He sealeth it on the hand of every man, that all men whom he hath made may know it.
8 The wild animals enter their lairs; they settle down in their dens.
Then retire the beasts into [their] dens, and rest in their lairs.
9 The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.
Out of [his] chamber cometh the whirlwind, and out of the north, the cold.
10 By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen.
From the breathing of God ice is given, and the broad waters become solid.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them.
Also with moisture he loadeth the cloud; [and] he scattereth the cloud of his lightning;
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 guidance, to execute what he commandeth it upon the face of the world, the earth.
13 Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.
Whether it be as a chastising rod—if this be destined for his earth—or for kindness, doth he cause it to come.
14 Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God.
Give ear unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider well the wonders of God.
15 Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash?
Dost thou know how God hath imposed [a law] on them, and [how] he hath 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?
Dost thou know aught about the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
[Thou] who clothest thyself with warm garments, when He giveth the earth rest from the south wind?
18 can you, like Him, spread out the skies to reflect the heat like a mirror of bronze?
Hast thou with him spread out the skies, which are strong even as a molten mirror?
19 Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness.
Let us know what we shall say unto him: we cannot set aught in order [before him] because of darkness.
20 Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?
Can [all] be related of him, when I speak [ever so much]? or if a man talk [of him] even till he be swallowed up [in death]?
21 Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
Yet now men see not the light which is bright in the skies, when the wind hath passed along, and purified them.
22 Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.
The golden [light] that cometh out of the north: around 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.
The Almighty, whom we cannot find out, excellent in power, and in justice, and abounding in righteousness, will not afflict:
24 Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”
Therefore do men fear him; he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
