< Job 37 >

1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of its place.
Indeed, my heart trembles at this; it is moved out of its place.
2 Hear attentively the noise of His voice, and the sound that goeth out of His mouth.
Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out from his mouth.
3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, and His lightning unto the ends of the earth.
He sends it out under the whole sky, and he sends out his lightning to the edges 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.
A voice roars after it; he thunders with the voice of his majesty; he does not restrain the lightning bolts when his voice is heard.
5 God thundereth marvellously with His voice; great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend.
God thunders marvelously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
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.
For he says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth'; likewise to the rain shower, 'Become a great shower of rain.'
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man, that all men whom He hath made may know it.
He stops the hand of every man from working, so that all people whom he has made may see his deeds.
8 Then the beasts go into coverts, and remain in their dens.
Then the beasts go into hiding and stay in their dens.
9 Out of the Chamber cometh the storm; and cold out of the north.
The storm comes from its chamber in the south and the cold from the scattering winds in the north.
10 By the breath of God ice is given, and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
By the breath of God ice is given; the expanse of the waters is frozen like metal.
11 Yea, He ladeth the thick cloud with moister, He spreadeth abroad the cloud of His lightning;
Indeed, he weighs down the thick cloud with moisture; he scatters his lightning through the clouds.
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:
He swirls the clouds around by his guidance, so that they may do whatever he commands them above the surface of the whole world.
13 Whether it be for correction, or for His earth, or for mercy, that He cause it to come.
He makes all of this happen; sometimes it happens for correction, sometimes for his land, and sometimes as acts of covenant faithfulness.
14 Hearken unto this, O Job; stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
Listen to this, Job; stop and think about God's marvelous deeds.
15 Dost thou know how God enjoineth them, and causeth the lightning of His cloud to shine?
Do you know how God establishes the clouds and makes the lightning bolts to flash in them?
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
Do you understand the floating of the clouds, the marvelous deeds of God, who is perfect in knowledge?
17 Thou whose garments are warm, when the earth is still by reason of the south wind;
Do you understand how your garments become hot when the land is still because the wind comes from the south?
18 Canst thou with Him spread out the sky, which is strong as a molten mirror?
Can you spread out the sky as he can— the sky, which is as strong as a mirror of cast metal?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto Him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
Teach us what we should say to him, for we cannot lay out our arguments in order because of the darkness of our minds.
20 Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
Should he be told that I wish to speak with him? Would a person wish to be swallowed up?
21 And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies; but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
Now, people cannot look at the sun when it is bright in the sky after the wind has passed through and has cleared it of its clouds.
22 Out of the north cometh golden splendour, about God is terrible majesty.
Out of the north comes golden splendor— over God is fearsome majesty.
23 The Almighty, whom we cannot find out, is excellent in power, yet to judgment and plenteous justice He doeth no violence.
As for the Almighty, we cannot find him! He is great in power; he does not oppress justice and abundant righteousness.
24 Men do therefore fear Him; He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.
Therefore, people fear him. He does not pay any attention to those who are wise in their own minds.”

< Job 37 >