Chapter 37

¹“Yes, at this my heart trembles,

And is moved out of its place.

²Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice,

The sound that goes out of his mouth.

³He sends it forth under the whole sky,

And his lightning to the ends of the earth.

⁴After it a voice roars.

He thunders with the voice of his majesty;

He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.

⁵God thunders marvelously with his voice.

He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.

⁶For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth;’

Likewise to the shower of rain,

And to the showers of his mighty rain.

⁷He seals up the hand of every man,

That all men whom he has made may know it.

⁸Then the animals take cover,

And remain in their dens.

⁹Out of its chamber comes the storm,

And cold out of the north.

¹⁰By the breath of God, ice is given,

And the breadth of the waters is frozen.

¹¹Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture.

He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.

¹²It is turned round about by his guidance,

That they may do whatever he commands them

On the surface of the habitable world,

¹³Whether it is for correction, or for his land,

Or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.

¹⁴“Listen to this, Job:

Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

¹⁵Do you know how God controls them,

And causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?

¹⁶Do you know the workings of the clouds,

The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

¹⁷You whose clothing is warm,

When the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

¹⁸Can you, with him, spread out the sky,

Which is strong as a cast metal mirror?

¹⁹Teach us what we shall tell him;

For we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.

²⁰Shall it be told him that I would speak?

Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

²¹Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies,

But the wind passes, and clears them.

²²Out of the north comes golden splendor;

With God is awesome majesty.

²³We can’t reach the Almighty,

He is exalted in power;

In justice and great righteousness he will not oppress.

²⁴Therefore men revere him.

He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”