Job 37

1At this my heart also trembles and leaps from its place.

2Listen, listen to the thunder of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

3He lets it loose under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.

4After it a voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not hold them back when his voice is heard.

5God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things beyond our understanding.

6For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and so too to the showers of rain, the downpours of his mighty rain.

7He seals up the hand of every person, so that all the people he has made may know it.

8The animals go into their lairs and stay in their dens.

9The storm comes out of its chamber, and the cold from the driving winds.

10By the breath of God ice is formed, and the broad waters are frozen hard.

11He loads the thick clouds with moisture; he scatters the clouds of his lightning.

12They swirl around at his direction, turning by his guidance, to do all that he commands them over the face of the inhabited world.

13Whether for correction, or for his land, or for steadfast love, he makes it happen.

14Listen to this, Job; stop and consider the wonders of God.

15Do you know how God directs them and makes the lightning of his cloud flash?

16Do you know how the clouds are balanced, the wonders of the one who is complete in knowledge?

17You whose clothes are hot when the land lies still under the south wind,

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

19Teach us what we should say to him; we cannot set out our case because of our darkness.

20Should he be told that I want to speak? If anyone spoke, he would surely be swallowed up.

21Now no one can look at the light when it is bright in the skies, once the wind has passed and swept them clean.

22Out of the north comes golden splendor; around God is awesome majesty.

23The Almighty—we cannot reach him; he is great in power, and in justice and abundant righteousness he does not oppress.

24Therefore people fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in heart.”