[1] My heart pounds at this and leaps from my chest. [2] Just listen to his thunderous voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth. [3] He lets it loose beneath the entire sky; his lightning to the ends of the earth. [4] Then there comes a roaring sound; God thunders with his majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when his rumbling voice is heard. [5] God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. [6] For he says to the snow, "Fall to the earth," and the torrential rains, his mighty torrential rains, [7] serve as his sign to all mankind, so that all men may know his work. [8] The wild animals enter their lairs and stay in their dens. [9] The windstorm comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds. [10] Ice is formed by the breath of God, and watery expanses are frozen. [11] He saturates clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. [12] They swirl about, turning round and round at his direction, accomplishing everything he commands them over the surface of the inhabited world. [13] He causes this to happen for punishment, for his land, or for his faithful love. [14] Listen to this, Job. Stop and consider God's wonders. [15] Do you know how God directs his clouds or makes their lightning flash? [16] Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonderful works of him who has perfect knowledge? [17] You whose clothes get hot when the south wind brings calm to the land, [18] can you help God spread out the skies as hard as a cast metal mirror? [19] Teach us what we should say to him; we cannot prepare our case because of our darkness. [20] Should he be told that I want to speak? Can a man speak when he is confused? [21] Now no one can even look at the sun after a wind has swept through and cleared the sky. [22] Out of the north he comes, shrouded in a golden glow; awesome majesty surrounds him. [23] The Almighty-we cannot reach him- he is exalted in power! He will not violate justice and abundant righteousness, [24] therefore, men fear him. He does not look favorably on any who are wise in heart.
