Job 37
1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of its place.
At this my heart trembles, beating rapidly within me!
2 Hear attentively the noise of His voice, and the sound that goeth out of His mouth.
Listen carefully to God's thunderous voice that rumbles as he speaks.
3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, and His lightning unto the ends of the earth.
He sends it across the heaven; his lightning flashes to the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth; He thundereth with the voice of His majesty; and He stayeth them not when His voice is heard.
Then comes the roar of thunder, his majestic voice holding nothing back when he speaks.
5 God thundereth marvellously with His voice; great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend.
God's thunderous voice is wonderful! We can't comprehend the great things he does!
6 For He saith to the snow: 'Fall thou on the earth'; likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of His mighty rain.
He tells the snow to fall and the rain to pour down on the earth.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man, that all men whom He hath made may know it.
By this he stops people working so that everyone can understand what he does.
8 Then the beasts go into coverts, and remain in their dens.
Even the animals take shelter and remain in their dens.
9 Out of the Chamber cometh the storm; and cold out of the north.
The south wind blows in storms, while the north wind blows in cold weather.
10 By the breath of God ice is given, and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
God's breath produces ice, freezing the surface of water solid.
11 Yea, He ladeth the thick cloud with moister, He spreadeth abroad the cloud of His lightning;
He fills the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning from them.
12 And they are turned round about by His guidance, that they may do whatsoever He commandeth them upon the face of the habitable world:
They swirl around under his control; they move over all the earth as he commands.
13 Whether it be for correction, or for His earth, or for mercy, that He cause it to come.
He does this to accomplish his will, either to discipline or to show his goodness.
14 Hearken unto this, O Job; stand still, 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 how God enjoineth them, and causeth the lightning of His cloud to shine?
Do you know how God controls the clouds, or makes his lightning flash from them?
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
Do you know how clouds float in the sky—the wonderful work of him who knows everything.
17 Thou whose garments are warm, when the earth is still by reason of the south wind;
You know how your clothes drip with sweat when the south wind brings air that is hot and heavy.
18 Canst thou with Him spread out the sky, which is strong as a molten mirror?
Can you hammer out the sky so it becomes like a molten mirror, as he does?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto Him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
So why don't you teach us what to tell God? We cannot make our case because we are in the dark!
20 Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
Should God be told that I want to speak? Anyone who wanted to would be destroyed!
21 And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies; but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
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 Out of the north cometh golden splendour, about God is terrible majesty.
Out of the north God comes shining like gold, surrounded in awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty, whom we cannot find out, is excellent in power, yet to judgment and plenteous justice He doeth no violence.
We cannot approach the Almighty for he is far beyond us in power and justice, and doing right.
24 Men do therefore fear Him; He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.
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.”
