1“My heart pounds as I think of this.
It trembles within me.
2Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice
as it rolls from his mouth.
3It rolls across the heavens,
and his lightning flashes in every direction.
4Then comes the roaring of the thunder—
the tremendous voice of his majesty.
He does not restrain it when he speaks.
5God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.
6“He directs the snow to fall on the earth
and tells the rain to pour down.
7Then everyone stops working
so they can watch his power.
8The wild animals take cover
and stay inside their dens.
9The stormy wind comes from its chamber,
and the driving winds bring the cold.
10God’s breath sends the ice,
freezing wide expanses of water.
11He loads the clouds with moisture,
and they flash with his lightning.
12The clouds churn about at his direction.
They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.
13He makes these things happen either to punish people
or to show his unfailing love.
14“Pay attention to this, Job.
Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!
15Do you know how God controls the storm
and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?
16Do you understand how he moves the clouds
with wonderful perfection and skill?
17When you are sweltering in your clothes
and the south wind dies down and everything is still,
18he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror.
Can you do that?
19“So teach the rest of us what to say to God.
We are too ignorant to make our own arguments.
20Should God be notified that I want to speak?
Can people even speak when they are confused?a
21We cannot look at the sun,
for it shines brightly in the sky
when the wind clears away the clouds.
22So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God.b
He is clothed in dazzling splendor.
23We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty;
but even though he is just and righteous,
he does not destroy us.
24No wonder people everywhere fear him.
All who are wise show him reverence.”