Job 37
1 At this my heart trembleth, and is moved out of its place.
At this my heart trembles, beating rapidly within me!
2 Hear ye attentively the terror of his voice, and the sound that cometh out of his mouth.
Listen carefully to God's thunderous voice that rumbles as he speaks.
3 He beholdeth under all the heavens, and his light is upon the ends of the earth.
He sends it across the heaven; his lightning flashes to the ends of the earth.
4 After it a noise shall roar, he shall thunder with the voice of his majesty, and shall not be found out, when his voice shall be heard.
Then comes the roar of thunder, his majestic voice holding nothing back when he speaks.
5 God shall thunder wonderfully with his voice, he that doth great and unsearchable things.
God's thunderous voice is wonderful! We can't comprehend the great things he does!
6 He commandeth the snow to go down upon the earth, and the winter rain, and the shower of his strength.
He tells the snow to fall and the rain to pour down on the earth.
7 He sealeth up the hand of all men, that every one may know his works.
By this he stops people working so that everyone can understand what he does.
8 Then the beast shall go into his covert, and shall abide in his den.
Even the animals take shelter and remain in their dens.
9 Out of the inner parts shall a tempest come, and cold out of the north.
The south wind blows in storms, while the north wind blows in cold weather.
10 When God bloweth there cometh frost, and again the waters are poured out abundantly.
God's breath produces ice, freezing the surface of water solid.
11 Corn desireth clouds, and the clouds spread their light:
He fills the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning from them.
12 Which go round about, whithersoever the will of him that governeth them shall lead them, to whatsoever he shall command them upon the face of the whole earth:
They swirl around under his control; they move over all the earth as he commands.
13 Whether in one tribe, or in his own land, or in what place soever of his mercy he shall command them to be found.
He does this to accomplish his will, either to discipline or to show his goodness.
14 Hearken to these things, Job: Stand, and consider the wondrous works of God.
Listen to this, Job! Stop for a moment and consider the wonderful things God does.
15 Dost thou know when God commanded the rains, to shew his light of his clouds?
Do you know how God controls the clouds, or makes his lightning flash from them?
16 Knowest thou the great paths of the clouds, and the perfect knowledges?
Do you know how clouds float in the sky—the wonderful work of him who knows everything.
17 Are not thy garments hot, when the south wind blows upon the earth?
You know how your clothes drip with sweat when the south wind brings air that is hot and heavy.
18 Thou perhaps hast made the heavens with him, which are most strong, as if they were of molten brass.
Can you hammer out the sky so it becomes like a molten mirror, as he does?
19 Shew us what we may say to him: for we are wrapped up in darkness.
So why don't you teach us what to tell God? We cannot make our case because we are in the dark!
20 Who shall tell him the things I speak? even if a man shall speak, he shall be swallowed up.
Should God be told that I want to speak? Anyone who wanted to would be destroyed!
21 But now they see not the light: the air on a sudden shall be thickened into clouds, and the wind shall pass and drive them away.
After all, we can't look at the sun when it blazes brightly in the sky, after the wind has cleared away the clouds.
22 Cold cometh out of the north, and to God praise with fear.
Out of the north God comes shining like gold, surrounded in awesome majesty.
23 We cannot find him worthily: he is great in strength, and in judgment, and in justice, and he is ineffable.
We cannot approach the Almighty for he is far beyond us in power and justice, and doing right.
24 Therefore men shall fear him, and all that seem to themselves to be wise, shall not dare to behold him.
He does not act like a tyrant—no wonder people are in awe of him, though he does not value those who think they're wise.”
