Job 37

 

Job 37

1 “At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.

² Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

³ He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.

⁴ After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.

⁵ God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.

⁶ He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

⁷ So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.

⁸ The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.

⁹ The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.

¹⁰ The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.

¹¹ He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.

¹² At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.

¹³ He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.

¹⁴ “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.

¹⁵ Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?

¹⁶ Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?

¹⁷ You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,

¹⁸ can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?

¹⁹ “Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.

²⁰ Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?

²¹ Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.

²² Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.

²³ The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.

²⁴ Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart.”