Job 37

1At this my heart pounds and leaps out of its place. 2Listen, listen to the thunder of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. 3He lets it loose under the whole sky and sends his lightning to the ends of the earth. 4After it comes a roar; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not hold back the lightning when his voice is heard. 5God thunders with his voice in wonderful ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. 6For he says to the snow, “Fall on the earth,” and likewise to the shower of rain, the downpour of his mighty rains. 7He brings the work of every person to a stop, so that all the people he has made may know it. 8The wild animals go into their lairs and stay in their dens. 9The whirlwind comes out of its chamber, and cold comes from the driving winds. 10By the breath of God ice is formed, and the wide waters are frozen fast. 11He loads the thick clouds with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning. 12They whirl around at his direction to carry out all that he commands them over the face of the whole earth. 13Whether for correction, or for his land, or for faithful love, he makes it happen. 14Listen to this, Job; stop and think about God’s wonders. 15Do you know how God gives them their orders and makes the lightning flash from his cloud? 16Do you know how the clouds hang balanced, the wonders of the one who is perfect in knowledge? 17You whose clothes grow hot when the land lies still under the south wind, 18can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast metal? 19Teach us what we should say to him; we cannot prepare our case, because we are in the dark. 20Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up? 21Now no one can look at the light when it is brilliant in the skies, after the wind has passed and swept them clear. 22Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed in awesome majesty. 23The Almighty is beyond our reach; he is great in power, and in his justice and great righteousness he does not oppress. 24That is why people fear him; he pays no attention to those who think they are wise.