Job 37
1 At this also my heart trembles, and is moved out of his place.
“At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place.
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goes out of his mouth.
Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roars: he thunders with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
Then there comes a roaring sound; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds.
5 God thunders marvellously with his voice; great things does he, which we cannot comprehend.
God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.
6 For he says to the snow, Be you on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’
7 He seals up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
The wild animals enter their lairs; they settle down in their dens.
9 Out of the south comes the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen.
11 Also by watering he wearies the thick cloud: he scatters his bright cloud:
He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them.
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commands them upon the face of the world in the earth.
They swirl about, whirling at His direction, accomplishing all that He commands over the face of all the earth.
13 He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.
14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God.
15 Do you know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash?
16 Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 How your garments are warm, when he stills the earth by the south wind?
You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18 Have you with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
can you, like Him, spread out the skies to reflect the heat like a mirror of bronze?
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; we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passes, and cleanses them.
Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Fair weather comes out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.
23 Concerning the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respects not any that are wise of heart.
Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”
