1“When I hear the thunder, my heart pounds.
It beats faster inside me.
2Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice!
Listen to the thunder that comes from him!
3He sends his lightning across the sky.
It reaches from one end of the earth to the other.
4Next comes the sound of his roaring thunder.
He thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice fills the air,
he doesn’t hold anything back.
5God’s voice thunders in wonderful ways.
We’ll never understand the great things he does.
6He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth.’
He tells the rain, ‘Pour down your mighty waters.’
7He stops everyone from working.
He wants them to see his work.
8The animals go inside.
They remain in their dens.
9The storm comes out of its storeroom in the heavens.
The cold comes from the driving winds.
10The breath of God produces ice.
The shallow water freezes over.
11He loads the clouds with moisture.
He scatters his lightning through them.
12He directs the clouds to circle
above the surface of the whole earth.
They do everything he commands them to do.
13He tells the clouds to punish people.
Or he brings them to water his earth and show his love.
14“Job, listen to me.
Stop and think about the wonderful things God does.
15Do you know how he controls the clouds?
Do you understand how he makes his lightning flash?
16Do you know how the clouds stay up in the sky?
Do you understand the wonders of the God who has perfect knowledge?
17Even your clothes are too hot for you
when the land lies quiet under the south wind.
18Can you help God spread out the skies?
They are as hard as a mirror
that’s made out of bronze.
19“Job, tell us what we should say to God.
We can’t prepare our case
because our minds are dark.
20Should he be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be destroyed by him?
21No one can look at the sun.
It’s too bright after the wind has swept the skies clean.
22Out of the north, God comes in his shining glory.
He comes in all his wonderful majesty.
23We can’t reach up to the Mighty One.
He is lifted high because of his power.
Everything he does is fair and right.
So he doesn’t crush people.
24That’s why they have respect for him.
He cares about all those who are wise.”
1‘At this my heart pounds
and leaps from its place.
2Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back.
5God’s voice thunders in marvellous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.
6He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth,”
and to the rain shower, “Be a mighty downpour.”
7So that everyone he has made may know his work,
he stops all people from their labour.37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
8The animals take cover;
they remain in their dens.
9The tempest comes out from its chamber,
the cold from the driving winds.
10The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.
11He loads the clouds with moisture;
he scatters his lightning through them.
12At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.
13He brings the clouds to punish people,
or to water his earth and show his love.
14‘Listen to this, Job;
stop and consider God’s wonders.
15Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes his lightning flash?
16Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?
17You who swelter in your clothes
when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18can you join him in spreading out the skies,
hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
19‘Tell us what we should say to him;
we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
20Should he be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21Now no-one can look at the sun,
bright as it is in the skies
after the wind has swept them clean.
22Out of the north he comes in golden splendour;
God comes in awesome majesty.
23The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;
in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
24Therefore, people revere him,
for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.’
