36:26 “Yes, God is great—beyond our knowledge!43
The number of his years is unsearchable.
36:27 He draws up drops of water;
they distill44 the rain into its mist,45
36:28 which the clouds pour down
and shower on humankind abundantly.
36:29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds,
the thunderings of his pavilion?46
36:30 See how he scattered47 his lightning48 about him;
he has covered the depths49 of the sea.
36:31 It is by these that he judges50 the nations
and supplies food in abundance.
36:32 With his hands51 he covers52 the lightning,
and directs it against its target.
36:33 53 His thunder announces the coming storm,
the cattle also, concerning the storm’s approach.
37:1 At this also my heart pounds
and leaps from its place.
37:2 Listen carefully1 to the thunder of his voice,
to the rumbling2 that proceeds from his mouth.
37:3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
even his lightning to the far corners3 of the earth.
37:4 After that a voice roars;
he thunders with an exalted voice,
and he does not hold back his lightning bolts4
when his voice is heard.
37:5 God thunders with his voice in marvelous ways;5
he does great things beyond our understanding.6
37:6 For to the snow he says, ‘Fall7 to earth,’
and to the torrential rains,8 ‘Pour down.’9
37:7 He causes everyone to stop working,10
so that all people11 may know12 his work.
37:8 The wild animals go to their lairs,
and in their dens they remain.
37:9 A tempest blows out from its chamber,
icy cold from the driving winds.13
37:10 The breath of God produces ice,
and the breadth of the waters freeze solid.
37:11 He loads the clouds with moisture;14
he scatters his lightning through the clouds.
37:12 The clouds15 go round in circles,
wheeling about according to his plans,
to carry out16 all that he commands them
over the face of the whole inhabited world.
37:13 Whether it is for punishment17 for his land,
or whether it is for mercy,
he causes it to find its mark.18
37:14 “Pay attention to this, Job!
Stand still and consider the wonders God works.
37:15 Do you know how God commands them,19
how he makes lightning flash in his storm cloud?20
37:16 Do you know about the balancing21 of the clouds,
that wondrous activity of him who is perfect in knowledge?
37:17 You, whose garments are hot
when the earth is still because of the south wind,
37:18 will you, with him, spread out22 the clouds,
solid as a mirror of molten metal?
37:19 Tell us what we should23 say to him.
We cannot prepare a case24
because of the darkness.
37:20 Should he be informed that I want25 to speak?
If a man speaks, surely he would be swallowed up!
37:21 But now, the sun26 cannot be looked at27—
it is bright in the skies—
after a wind passed and swept the clouds away.28
37:22 From the north he comes in golden splendor;29
around God is awesome majesty.
37:23 As for the Almighty,30 we cannot attain to him!
He is great in power,
but justice31 and abundant righteousness he does not oppress.
37:24 Therefore people fear him,
for he does not regard all the wise in heart.”32
VI. The Divine Speeches (38:1–42:6)
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