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37 When I hear this, my heart races
and leaps from its place.
Listen! Listen to the booming thunder of his voice,
to the rumble that goes out from his mouth.
He turns it loose across the whole sky,
and his light reaches the ends of the earth.
After the lightning, a voice roars.
He thunders with his majestic voice.
He does not restrain the lightning.
Then his voice is heard!
God thunders with his voice in wonderful ways.
He does great things that we do not understand.
To the snow he says, “Fall on the earth.”
To the pouring rain, the torrential downpours of rain,
    he says, “Be strong.”[a]
He brings an end to all the work of men’s hands,
    so that they recognize his work.
The wild animals take shelter in their lairs.
They remain in their dens.
A winter wind comes out from its room,
and driving winds bring icy cold.
10 The breath of God produces ice.
The wide surface of the water turns solid.
11 Yes, he loads dark clouds with moisture,
and he fills the clouds with his light.
12 The clouds swirl around at his direction.
They do whatever he commands them
    over the face of the whole inhabited world.
13 Whether their purpose is to bring punishment or mercy to the world,
    he makes them achieve their goal.

14 Listen to this, Job! Stand still and recognize the wonders of God!
15 Do you know how God arranges them?
Do you know how he makes his light shine out from his clouds?
16 Do you know how the clouds float in the sky,
    those marvels produced by perfect knowledge?
17 You, whose clothing is too hot for you
    when the land rests quietly because of the hot south wind,
18 can you help him spread out the clouds
    when the sky is as hard as a metal mirror?
19 Teach us what we should say to him!
We are not able to prepare our case because of the darkness.
20 Should he be notified that I want to speak?
Or would a man who said that be swallowed up?

21 But no one can look at the sun.
It is too bright when the wind has cleared the sky of the clouds.
22 God’s golden splendor comes from the north.
God is surrounded by awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, we cannot comprehend him.
He is exalted in power,
but he does not violate justice and great righteousness.
24 Therefore men should revere him,
because he has regard for all those who are wise in heart.[b]

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:6 This line is difficult.
  2. Job 37:24 Or, reading with the Greek, those who are wise in heart fear him

37 “At this my heart pounds(A)
    and leaps from its place.
Listen!(B) Listen to the roar of his voice,(C)
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(D)
He unleashes his lightning(E) beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.(F)
After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders(G) with his majestic voice.(H)
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
God’s voice thunders(I) in marvelous ways;(J)
    he does great things beyond our understanding.(K)
He says to the snow,(L) ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(M)
So that everyone he has made may know his work,(N)
    he stops all people from their labor.[a](O)
The animals take cover;(P)
    they remain in their dens.(Q)
The tempest comes out from its chamber,(R)
    the cold from the driving winds.(S)
10 The breath of God produces ice,
    and the broad waters become frozen.(T)
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;(U)
    he scatters his lightning(V) through them.(W)
12 At his direction they swirl around
    over the face of the whole earth
    to do whatever he commands them.(X)
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,(Y)
    or to water his earth and show his love.(Z)

14 “Listen(AA) to this, Job;
    stop and consider God’s wonders.(AB)
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
    and makes his lightning(AC) flash?(AD)
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,(AE)
    those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?(AF)
17 You who swelter in your clothes
    when the land lies hushed under the south wind,(AG)
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,(AH)
    hard as a mirror of cast bronze?(AI)

19 “Tell us what we should say to him;(AJ)
    we cannot draw up our case(AK) because of our darkness.(AL)
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,(AM)
    bright as it is in the skies
    after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;(AN)
    God comes in awesome majesty.(AO)
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;(AP)
    in his justice(AQ) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.(AR)
24 Therefore, people revere him,(AS)
    for does he not have regard for all the wise(AT) in heart?[b]

Footnotes

  1. Job 37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
  2. Job 37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.