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.’
Guds uendelige storhed
1Det får mit hjerte til at banke voldsomt,
det hopper næsten helt op i halsen.
2Hør efter, når Gud taler fra stormvejret,
når hans tordenrøst ruller hen over os.
3Lynene glimter hen over himlen
og rækker helt til jordens ende.
4Derefter kommer tordenskraldet,
hans majestætiske, tordnende røst.
Han sparer ikke på lynene,
når han lader sin røst høre.
5Guds storslåede stemme høres i bulderet,
han gør store og ufattelige ting.
6Han befaler sneen at falde på jorden
og sender regnskyl i tykke tove.
7Folk må standse op midt i deres arbejde
og anerkende Guds vældige magt.
8Dyrene søger i skjul,
de bliver i deres huler.
9Den bidende blæst lukkes ud fra sit hus
og kommer med kulde fra nord.
10Gud ånder på vandet,
så overfladen fryser til is.
11Han fylder skyerne med vand,
og fra dem udspringer hans lyn.
12Skyerne farer frem og tilbage,
de bevæger sig efter hans vilje.
De udfører hans befalinger
ud over den vide jord,
13hvad enten lynet kommer for at straffe,
eller regnen kommer for at velsigne.
14Tænk dig om et øjeblik, Job,
læg mærke til Guds forunderlige gerninger.
15Ved du, hvordan han styrer naturens kræfter,
hvordan han får lynene til at glimte fra skyerne?
16Forstår du, hvordan skyerne kan svæve i luften?
Det er den Almægtiges underværker.
17Du, som lider under den brændende sol,
når søndenvinden bringer en hedebølge,
18var det dig, der hjalp ham udspænde himlens bue,
så den skinner som et spejl af blankt metal?
19Job, hvad med at dele noget af din visdom med Gud,
for vi andre ved jo ingenting!
20Tør du sige til Gud, at du vil fortælle ham noget?
Risikerer du ikke at dø ved at træde frem for ham?
21Når vinden har blæst skyerne væk,
og solen kommer frem i al sin skarphed,
kan intet menneske holde ud at se på dens strålende lys.
22Mod nord kan man se et gyldent skær,
men Guds herlighed er langt mere strålende.
23Vi kan ikke mødes på lige fod med den almægtige Gud,
for hans magt er uendelig.
Hans godhed er uden grænser,
og han kan umuligt være uretfærdig.
24Derfor har mennesker ærefrygt for ham,
men de selvretfærdige kan Gud ikke hjælpe.”
