Job, 37

1. At this, my very heart quakes and leaps out of its place.

1. "At this also my heart trembles, and leaps out of its place.

2. Listen, oh listen, to the blast of his voice and the sound that issues from his mouth.

2. Hearken to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

3. His lightning is hurled across the heaven, it strikes to the extremities of earth.

3. Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth.

4. After it comes a roaring sound, God thunders with majestic voice. He does not check his thunderbolts until his voice resounds no more.

4. After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard.

5. Yes, certainly God shows us marvels and does great deeds that we cannot understand.

5. God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things which we cannot comprehend.

6. When he says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth!' to the showers, 'Now rain hard!'

6. For to the snow he says, `Fall on the earth'; and to the shower and the rain, `Be strong.'

7. he brings all human activity to a standstill, for everyone to acknowledge his work.

7. He seals up the hand of every man, that all men may know his work.

8. The animals go back to their dens and take shelter in their lairs.

8. Then the beasts go into their lairs, and remain in their dens.

9. The storm wind comes from the Mansion of the South, and the north winds usher in the cold.

9. From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds.

10. At the breath of God, ice comes next, the surface of the waters hardens over.

10. By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.

11. He weighs the clouds down with moisture, and the storm clouds radiate his lightning.

11. He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning.

12. He himself guides their wheeling motion presiding over their seasonal changes. They carry out his orders to the letter all over this earthly world.

12. They turn round and round by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world.

13. Whether to punish earth's peoples or as a work of faithful love, he despatches them.

13. Whether for correction, or for his land, or for love, he causes it to happen.

14. Listen to this, Job, without flinching and reflect on the marvellous works of God.

14. "Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.

15. Do you know how God controls them or how his clouds make the lightning flash?

15. Do you know how God lays his command upon them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?

16. Do you know how he balances the clouds -- a miracle of consummate skill?

16. Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,

17. When your clothes are hot to your body and the earth lies still under the south wind,

17. you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind?

18. can you, like him, stretch out the sky, tempered like a mirror of cast metal?

18. Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a molten mirror?

19. Teach me what we should say to him: but better discuss no further, since we are in the dark.

19. Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.

20. Does he take note when I speak? When human beings give orders, does he take it in?

20. Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?

21. There are times when the light vanishes, behind darkening clouds; then comes the wind, sweeping them away.

21. "And now men cannot look on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them.

22. and brightness spreads from the north. God is clothed in fearful splendour:

22. Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with terrible majesty.

23. he, Shaddai, is far beyond our reach. Supreme in power, in equity, excelling in saving justice, yet no oppressor-

23. The Almighty -- we cannot find him; he is great in power and justice, and abundant righteousness he will not violate.

24. no wonder then that people fear him: everyone thoughtful holds him in awe!

24. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit."