1This is why my heart pounds
and leaps from its place.
2Listen to the thunder of his voice
as it comes rumbling from his mouth.
3Under the heavens, he hurls his lightning,
sending it to the ends of the earth.
4Then comes the sound of God’s roar–
the majestic peal of his thunder.
He does not check his thunderbolts
until his voice has fully resounded.
5God thunders and his voice works marvels;
he does great things we cannot perceive.
6He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth”;
and to the rainshower, “Be a strong downpour.”
7So he keeps people under cover
to let them acknowledge his work.
8Wild beasts go back into their lairs
and remain quietly in their dens.
9The storm comes out from its chamber,
and the cold from the driving winds.
10The breath of God forms ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.
11With thunderbolts he loads the clouds,
and through them scatters his lightning.
12At his direction they do their rounds,
upon the face of the habitable world,
13whether for punishment or mercy as he commands.
14Listen to this, O Job:
pause and consider God’s marvels.
15Do you know how he controls the clouds,
how he makes his lightning flash?
16Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
all these wonders wrought by his perfect knowledge?
17You who swelter in your clothes
when the earth lies still under the south wind,
18can you, like him, spread out the skies,
hard as a mirror of molten bronze?
19Teach us then what we shall say to him;
we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
20Does it take an angel
to bring this to God’s attention?
21A while ago we could not see the light
and the clouds darkened the sky,
but the storm has just cast them out.
22A blaze comes from the north,
a dreadful glory around God.
23The Almighty is beyond our reach;
exalted in power, great in judgment;
the Master of justice oppresses no one.
24Therefore, people revere him;
the wise are nothing in his sight.
