Job 37
1 At this my heart trembles, beating rapidly within me!
“Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.
2 Listen carefully to God's thunderous voice that rumbles as he speaks.
Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.
3 He sends it across the heaven; his lightning flashes to the ends of the earth.
He sends it out under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 Then comes the roar of thunder, his majestic voice holding nothing back when he speaks.
After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.
5 God's thunderous voice is wonderful! We can't comprehend the great things he does!
God thunders marvellously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.
6 He tells the snow to fall and the rain to pour down on the earth.
For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.
7 By this he stops people working so that everyone can understand what he does.
He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.
8 Even the animals take shelter and remain in their dens.
Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.
9 The south wind blows in storms, while the north wind blows in cold weather.
Out of its room comes the storm, and cold out of the north.
10 God's breath produces ice, freezing the surface of water solid.
By the breath of God, ice is given, and the width of the waters is frozen.
11 He fills the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning from them.
Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
12 They swirl around under his control; they move over all the earth as he commands.
It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,
13 He does this to accomplish his will, either to discipline or to show his goodness.
whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.
14 Listen to this, Job! Stop for a moment and consider the wonderful things God does.
“Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds, or makes his lightning flash from them?
Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16 Do you know how clouds float in the sky—the wonderful work of him who knows everything.
Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 You know how your clothes drip with sweat when the south wind brings air that is hot and heavy.
You whose clothing is warm when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?
18 Can you hammer out the sky so it becomes like a molten mirror, as he does?
Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 So why don't you teach us what to tell God? We cannot make our case because we are in the dark!
Teach us what we will tell him, for we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.
20 Should God be told that I want to speak? Anyone who wanted to would be destroyed!
Will it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
21 After all, we can't look at the sun when it blazes brightly in the sky, after the wind has cleared away the clouds.
Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.
22 Out of the north God comes shining like gold, surrounded in awesome majesty.
Out of the north comes golden splendour. With God is awesome majesty.
23 We cannot approach the Almighty for he is far beyond us in power and justice, and doing right.
We can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.
24 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.”
Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”
