Job 37
1 Aye, my heart trembleth at this also, and leapeth up out of its place:
“At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place.
2 Hear attentively the roar of his voice, and the murmur going forth from his mouth.
Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency, and holdeth not back the flashes when his voice is heard.
Then there comes a roaring sound; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds.
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice, doing great things which we do not comprehend.
God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.
6 For he saith to the snow, Fall on the earth! and to the pouring rain, even the pouring rains of his might.
For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work.
8 And the wild beast goeth into its lair, and they remain in their dens.
The wild animals enter their lairs; they settle down in their dens.
9 From the chamber [of the south] cometh the whirlwind; and cold from the winds of the north.
The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.
10 By the breath of God ice is given; and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen.
11 Also with plentiful moisture he loadeth the thick clouds, his light dispels the cloud;
He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them.
12 And they are turned every way by his guidance, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the circuit of the earth,
They swirl about, whirling at His direction, accomplishing all that He commands over the face of all the earth.
13 Whether he cause it to come as a rod, or for his land, or in mercy.
Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.
14 Hearken unto this, Job; stand still and discern the wondrous works of God.
Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God.
15 Dost thou know how God hath disposed them, and how he causeth the lightning of his cloud to flash?
Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash?
16 Dost thou know about the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him that is perfect in knowledge?
Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 How thy garments become warm when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, firm, like a molten mirror?
can you, like Him, spread out the skies to reflect the heat like a mirror of bronze?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him! We cannot order [our words] by reason of darkness.
Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness.
20 Shall it be told him if I would speak? if a man [so] say, surely he shall be swallowed up.
Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?
21 And now [men] see not the light as it gleameth, it is [hidden] in the skies. But the wind passeth by and cleareth them.
Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
22 From the north cometh gold; with God is terrible majesty.
Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.
23 The Almighty, we cannot find him out: excellent in power, and in judgment, and in abundance of justice, he doth not afflict.
The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”
