The Work and Wisdom of God

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)