^1. "At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.

^2. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

^3. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.

^4. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.

^5. God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.

^6. He says to the snow, `Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, `Be a mighty downpour.'

^7. So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labor. [1]

^8. The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.

^9. The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.

^10. The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.

^11. He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.

^12. At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.

^13. He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth [2] and show his love.

^14. "Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders.

^15. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?

^16. Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?

^17. You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,

^18. can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?

^19. "Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.

^20. Should he be told that I want to speak? Would any man ask to be swallowed up?

^21. Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.

^22. Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.

^23. The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.

^24. Therefore, men revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart? [3] "