Job 37

1“At this my heart trembles, beating rapidly within me!1 2Listen carefully to God's thunderous voice that rumbles as he speaks. 3He sends it across the heaven; his lightning flashes to the ends of the earth. 4Then comes the roar of thunder, his majestic voice holding nothing back when he speaks. 5God's thunderous voice is wonderful! We can't comprehend the great things he does!

6He tells the snow to fall and the rain to pour down on the earth. 7By this he stops people working so that everyone can understand what he does. 8Even the animals take shelter and remain in their dens. 9The south wind blows in storms, while the north wind blows in cold weather.2 10God's breath produces ice, freezing the surface of water solid. 11He fills the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning from them. 12They swirl around under his control; they move over all the earth as he commands. 13He does this to accomplish his will, either to discipline or to show his goodness.3

14Listen to this, Job! Stop for a moment and consider the wonderful things God does. 15Do you know how God controls the clouds, or makes his lightning flash from them? 16Do you know how clouds float4 in the sky—the wonderful work of him who knows everything. 17You know how your clothes drip with sweat when the south wind brings air that is hot and heavy. 18Can you hammer out the sky so it becomes like a molten mirror, as he does?

19So why don't you teach us what to tell God? We cannot make our case because we are in the dark!5 20Should God be told that I want to speak? Anyone who wanted to would be destroyed!6 21After all, we can't look at the sun when it blazes brightly in the sky, after the wind has cleared away the clouds. 22Out of the north God comes shining like gold, surrounded in awesome majesty. 23We cannot approach the Almighty for he is far beyond us in power and justice, and doing right. 24He does not act like a tyrant—no wonder people are in awe of him, though he does not value those who think they're wise.”7