Job 37

1 At this, my heart became frightened, and it has been moved from its place.

At this my heart is shaking; it is moved out of its place.

2 Pay close attention to the alarm of his voice and to the sound that proceeds from his mouth.

Give ear to the rolling noise of his voice; to the hollow sound which goes out of his mouth.

3 He beholds everything under the heavens, and his light reaches beyond the ends of the earth.

He sends it out through all the heaven, and his thunder-flame to the ends of the earth.

4 After this, a noise will sound; he will thunder with the voice of his greatness, and it will not be tracked down, yet his voice will be obeyed.

After it a voice is sounding, thundering out the word of his power; he does not keep back his thunder-flames; from his mouth his voice is sounding.

5 God will thunder with his voice miraculously, for he performs great and unsearchable things.

He does wonders, more than may be searched out; great things of which we have no knowledge;

6 He commands the snow to descend on earth, and the winter rains, and the shower of his strength.

For he says to the snow, Make the earth wet; and to the rain-storm, Come down.

7 He signs the hand of all men, so that each one may know his works.

He puts an end to the work of every man, so that all may see his work.

8 The beast will enter his hiding-place, and he will remain in his cave.

Then the beasts go into their holes, and take their rest.

9 From the interior, a storm will come forth, and a cold winter from the north.

Out of its place comes the storm-wind, and the cold out of its store-houses.

10 As God breathes out, frost forms, and the waters are poured forth very widely again.

By the breath of God ice is made, and the wide waters are shut in.

11 Crops desire clouds, and the clouds scatter their light.

The thick cloud is weighted with thunder-flame, and the cloud sends out its light;

12 It shines all around, wherever the will of him that governs them will lead, to anywhere he will command, over the whole face of the earth,

And it goes this way and that, round about, turning itself by his guiding, to do whatever he gives orders to be done, on the face of his world of men,

13 whether in one tribe, or in his own region, or in whatever place of his mercy that he will order them to be found.

For a rod, or for a curse, or for mercy, causing it to come on the mark.

14 Listen to these things, Job. Stand up and consider the wonders of God.

Give ear to this, O Job, and keep quiet in your place; and take note of the wonders worked by God.

15 Do you know when God ordered the rains, so as to show the light of his clouds?

Have you knowledge of God's ordering of his works, how he makes the light of his cloud to be seen?

16 Do you know the great paths of the clouds, and the perfect sciences?

Have you knowledge of the balancings of the clouds, the wonders of him who has all wisdom?

17 Are not your garments hot, when the south wind blows across the land?

You, whose clothing is warm, when the earth is quiet because of the south wind,

18 Perhaps you have made the heavens with him, which are very solid, as if they had been cast from brass.

Will you, with him, make the skies smooth, and strong as a polished looking-glass?

19 Reveal to us what we should say to him, for, of course, we are wrapped in darkness.

Make clear to me what we are to say to him; we are unable to put our cause before him, because of the dark.

20 Who will explain to him the things that I am saying? Even while a man is still speaking, he will be devoured.

How may he have knowledge of my desire for talk with him? or did any man ever say, May destruction come on me?

21 Although they do not see the light, the air will be thickened suddenly into clouds, and the wind, passing by, will drive them away.

And now the light is not seen, for it is dark because of the clouds; but a wind comes, clearing them away.

22 Riches arrive from the north, and fearful praise reaches out to God.

A bright light comes out of the north; God's glory is greatly to be feared.

23 We are not worthy to be able to find him. Great in strength, great in judgment, great in justice: he is indescribable.

There is no searching out of the Ruler of all: his strength and his judging are great; he is full of righteousness, doing no wrong.

24 Therefore, men will fear him, and all those who seem to themselves to be wise, will not dare to contemplate him.

For this cause men go in fear of him; he has no respect for any who are wise in heart.