Job 37
1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his 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 directeth it 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 excellency; and he will not stay them 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, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain 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 every man; that all men may know his work.
By this he stops people working so that everyone can understand what he does.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
Even the animals take shelter and remain in their dens.
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: 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 frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
God's breath produces ice, freezing the surface of water solid.
11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
He fills the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning from them.
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
They swirl around under his control; they move over all the earth as he commands.
13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
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 when God disposed them, and caused the light 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 which is perfect in knowledge?
Do you know how clouds float in the sky—the wonderful work of him who knows everything.
17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
You know how your clothes drip with sweat when the south wind brings air that is hot and heavy.
18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
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 speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be 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 bright light which is in the clouds: 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 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
Out of the north God comes shining like gold, surrounded in awesome majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
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 respecteth 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.”
