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37 “At the sound of his thunder, my heart pounds
    as if it will jump out of my chest.
Listen! Listen to the thunder of God’s voice
    and to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
He turns his lightning loose under the whole sky
    and sends it to the farthest parts of the earth.
After that you can hear the roar
    when he thunders with a great sound.
He does not hold back the flashing
    when his voice is heard.
God’s voice thunders in wonderful ways;
    he does great things we cannot understand.
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the shower, ‘Be a heavy rain.’
With it, he stops everyone from working
    so everyone knows it is the work of God.
The animals take cover from the rain
    and stay in their dens.
The storm comes from where it was stored;
    the cold comes with the strong winds.
10 The breath of God makes ice,
    and the wide waters become frozen.
11 He fills the clouds with water
    and scatters his lightning through them.
12 At his command they swirl around
    over the whole earth,
    doing whatever he commands.
13 He uses the clouds to punish people
    or to water his earth and show his love.

14 “Job, listen to this:
    Stop and notice God’s miracles.
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
    and makes his lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds hang in the sky?
    Do you know the miracles of God, who knows everything?
17 You suffer in your clothes
    when the land is silenced by the hot, south wind.
18 You cannot stretch out the sky like God
    and make it look as hard as polished bronze.
19 Tell us what we should say to him;
    we cannot get our arguments ready because we do not have enough understanding.
20 Should God be told that I want to speak?
    Would a person ask to be swallowed up?
21 No one can look at the sun
    when it is bright in the sky
    after the wind has blown all the clouds away.
22 God comes out of the north in golden light,
    in overwhelming greatness.
23 The Almighty is too high for us to reach.
    He has great strength;
    he is always right and never punishes unfairly.
24 That is why people honor him;
    he does not respect those who say they are wise.”

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.