37:1 At this also my heart trembles
and leaps from its place.
37:2 Listen carefully¹ to the thunder of his voice,
to the murmuring² that proceeds from his mouth.
37:3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
even his lightning to the corners³ of the earth.
37:4 After that a voice roars,
he thunders with an exalted voice,
and he does not hold back his lightnings⁴
when his voice is heard.
37:5 God thunders with his voice in marvelous ways,⁵
he does great things beyond out understanding.⁶
37:6 For to the snow he says, “Fall⁷ to earth,”
and to the torrential rains,⁸ “Be strong.”
37:7 He seals up every man from his labor,⁹
that all men¹⁰ might know¹¹ his work.
37:8 And the animals go to their lairs,
and in their dens they remain.
37:9 A tempest comes out from its chamber,
icy cold from the driving winds.¹²
37:10 The breath of God produces ice,
and the breadth of the waters become frozen.
37:11 He loads the clouds with moisture;¹³
he scatters his lightning through the clouds.
37:12 The clouds¹⁴ go round in circles
wheeling about according to his plans,
that they might do¹⁵ all that he commands them,
over the face of the whole world.
37:13 Whether it is for punishment¹⁶ for his land,
or whether it be for mercy,
he causes it to find its mark.¹⁷
37:14 Listen to this, Job!
Stand still and consider the wonders of God.
37:15 Do you know how God commands them,¹⁸
how he makes lightning flash in his stormcloud?¹⁹
37:16 Do you know about the balancing of the clouds,
wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?
37:17 You, whose garments are hot
when the earth is still because of the south wind.
37:18 Will you, with him, spread out²⁰ the clouds,
solid as a mirror of molten metal?
37:19 Tell us what we should²¹ say to him.
We cannot prepare a case,²²
because of the darkness.
37:20 Should it be told to him that I want²³ to speak?
If a man speaks, surely he would be swallowed up!
37:21 But now, the sun²⁴ cannot be looked at—²⁵
it is bright in the skies—
after a wind passed and swept them away.²⁶
37:22 From the north he comes in golden splendor,²⁷
around God is awesome majesty;
37:23 As for the Almighty,²⁸ we cannot attain to him!
He is great in power and justice,
and abundant righteousness;
he does not oppress.
37:24 Therefore men fear him
for he does not regard all the wise in heart.²⁹