1 I am frightenedand tremble all over,
2 when I hear the roaring voiceof God in the thunder,
3 and when I see his lightningflash across the sky.
4 God's majestic voicethunders his commands,
5 creating miracles too marvelousfor us to understand.
6 Snow and heavy rainstorms
7 make us stop and thinkabout God's power,
8 and they force animalsto seek shelter.
9 The windstorms of winter strike,
10 and the breath of Godfreezes streams and rivers.
11 Rain clouds filled with lightningappear at God's command,
12 traveling across the sky
13 to release their cargo—sometimes as punishment for sin,sometimes as kindness.
14 Job, consider carefullythe many wonders of God.
15 Can you explain why lightningflashes at the orders
16 of God who knows all things?Or how he hangs the cloudsin empty space?
17 You almost melt in the heatof fierce desert windswhen the sky is like brass.
18 God can hammer out the cloudsin spite of the oppressive heat,but can you?
19 Tell us what to say to God!Our minds are in the dark,and we don't know howto argue our case.
20 Should I risk my lifeby telling Godthat I want to speak?
21 No one can stare at the sunafter a breeze has blownthe clouds from the sky.
22 Yet the glorious splendorof God All-Powerfulis brighter by far.
23 God cannot be seen—but his power is great,and he is always fair.
24 And so we humans fear God,because he shows no respectfor those who are proudand think they know so much.