Job 37

¹“My heart pounds as I think of this. It trembles within me. ² Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice as it rolls from his mouth. ³ It rolls across the heavens, and his lightning flashes in every direction. ⁴ Then comes the roaring of the thunder— the tremendous voice of his majesty. He does not restrain it when he speaks. ⁵ God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.

⁶“He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down. ⁷ Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power. ⁸ The wild animals take cover and stay inside their dens. ⁹ The stormy wind comes from its chamber, and the driving winds bring the cold. ¹⁰ God’s breath sends the ice, freezing wide expanses of water. ¹¹ He loads the clouds with moisture, and they flash with his lightning. ¹² The clouds churn about at his direction. They do whatever he commands throughout the earth. ¹³ He makes these things happen either to punish people or to show his unfailing love.

¹⁴“Pay attention to this, Job. Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God! ¹⁵ Do you know how God controls the storm and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds? ¹⁶ Do you understand how he moves the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill? ¹⁷ When you are sweltering in your clothes and the south wind dies down and everything is still, ¹⁸ he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror. Can you do that?

¹⁹“So teach the rest of us what to say to God. We are too ignorant to make our own arguments. ²⁰ Should God be notified that I want to speak? Can people even speak when they are confused? Or speak without being swallowed up? ²¹ We cannot look at the sun, for it shines brightly in the sky when the wind clears away the clouds. ²² So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God. Or from the north; or from the abode. He is clothed in dazzling splendor. ²³ We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us. ²⁴ No wonder people everywhere fear him. All who are wise show him reverence.”