1‘When I hear the thunder, my heart pounds. It beats faster inside me.2Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice! Listen to the thunder that comes from him!3He sends his lightning across the sky. It reaches from one end of the earth to the other.4Next comes the sound of his roaring thunder. He thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice fills the air, he doesn’t hold anything back.5God’s voice thunders in wonderful ways. We’ll never understand the great things he does.6He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth.” He tells the rain, “Pour down your mighty waters.”7He stops everyone from working. He wants them to see his work.8The animals go inside. They remain in their dens.9The storm comes out of its storeroom in the heavens. The cold comes from the driving winds.10The breath of God produces ice. The shallow water freezes over.11He loads the clouds with moisture. He scatters his lightning through them.12He directs the clouds to circle above the surface of the whole earth. They do everything he commands them to do.13He tells the clouds to punish people. Or he brings them to water his earth and show his love.14‘Job, listen to me. Stop and think about the wonderful things God does.15Do you know how he controls the clouds? Do you understand how he makes his lightning flash?16Do you know how the clouds stay up in the sky? Do you understand the wonders of the God who has perfect knowledge?17Even your clothes are too hot for you when the land lies quiet under the south wind.18Can you help God spread out the skies? They are as hard as a mirror that’s made out of bronze.19‘Job, tell us what we should say to God. We can’t prepare our case because our minds are dark.20Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be destroyed by him?21No one can look at the sun. It’s too bright after the wind has swept the skies clean.22Out of the north, God comes in his shining glory. He comes in all his wonderful majesty.23We can’t reach up to the Mighty One. He is lifted high because of his power. Everything he does is fair and right. So he doesn’t crush people.24That’s why they have respect for him. He cares about all those who are wise.’
Job 37
English Standard Version
Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty
1“At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place.2Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.3Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth. (Job 36:30; Job 36:32; Job 38:13; Isa 11:12; Eze 7:2)4After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings[1] when his voice is heard. (Job 40:9; Ps 18:13; Ps 29:3; Ps 68:33)5God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. (Job 5:9; Job 36:26)6For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. (Ps 147:16)7He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it. (Job 14:17; Ps 109:27; Da 12:9)8Then the beasts go into their lairs, and remain in their dens. (Job 38:40; Ps 104:22)9From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds. (Job 1:19; Job 9:9; Ps 147:17; Isa 21:1)10By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. (Job 36:16; Job 38:29; Ps 147:17)11He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning.12They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. (Ge 3:24; Ps 148:8; Pr 8:31)13Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen. (Ex 9:18; Ex 9:23; 1Sa 12:18; 1Ki 18:45; Ezr 10:9; Job 36:31; Job 38:22; Job 38:26)14“Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God. (Ps 111:2)15Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?16Do you know the balancings[2] of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge, (1Sa 2:3; Job 36:4)17you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind?18Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror? (Ge 1:6; Ex 38:8; Isa 42:5; Isa 44:24)19Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness. (Isa 60:2; Eph 4:18)20Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?21“And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them.22Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty. (Ps 104:1)23The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. (Job 36:5; Ps 99:4; La 3:33; 1Ti 6:16)24Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”[3] (Ps 130:4; Isa 5:21; Mt 10:28; Mt 11:25; 1Co 1:26)