Common English Bible CEB
The Message Bible MSG
1 Oh, my mind is disturbed by this and is more troubled than usual.
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"Whenever this happens, my heart stops - I'm stunned, I can't catch my breath.
2 Listen closely to the rumble of his voice, the roar issuing from his mouth.
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Listen to it! Listen to his thunder, the rolling, rumbling thunder of his voice.
3 He looses it under the whole sky, his lightning on earth's edges.
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He lets loose his lightnings from horizon to horizon, lighting up the earth from pole to pole.
4 After it, a voice roars; he thunders with a mighty voice, and no one can stop it when his voice is heard.
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In their wake, the thunder echoes his voice, powerful and majestic. He lets out all the stops, he holds nothing back. No one can mistake that voice -
5 God roars with his wondrous voice; he does great things we can't know.
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His word thundering so wondrously, his mighty acts staggering our understanding.
6 He says to the snow, "Fall to earth," and to the downpour of rain, "Be a mighty shower."
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He orders the snow, 'Blanket the earth!' and the rain, 'Soak the whole countryside!'
7 He stamps the hand of every person so all can know his work.
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No one can escape the weather - it's there. And no one can escape from God.
8 The wild beast enters its lair, lies down in its den.
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Wild animals take shelter, crawling into their dens,
9 The storm comes from its chamber, the cold from the north wind.
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When blizzards roar out of the north and freezing rain crusts the land.
10 By God's breath ice forms; water's expanse becomes solid.
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It's God's breath that forms the ice, it's God's breath that turns lakes and rivers solid.
11 He also fills clouds with moisture; his lightning scatters clouds.
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And yes, it's God who fills clouds with rainwater and hurls lightning from them every which way.
12 He overturns the circling clouds; by his guidance they do their work, doing everything he commands over the entire earth.
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He puts them through their paces - first this way, then that - commands them to do what he says all over the world.
13 Whether for punishment, for his world, or for kindness, God makes it all happen.
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Whether for discipline or grace or extravagant love, he makes sure they make their mark. A Terrible Beauty Streams from God
14 Hear this, Job; stop and ponder God's mighty deeds.
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"Job, are you listening? Have you noticed all this? Stop in your tracks! Take in God's miracle-wonders!
15 Do you realize that when God commands them, his clouds produce lightning?
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Do you have any idea how God does it all, how he makes bright lightning from dark storms,
16 Do you understand the positioning of the clouds, the amazing deeds of one with perfect knowledge,
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How he piles up the cumulus clouds - all these miracle-wonders of a perfect Mind?
17 you whose clothes are hot when earth is calmed by the south wind?
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Why, you don't even know how to keep cool on a sweltering hot day,
18 Can you form the sky with him, hard like a mirror made of metal?
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So how could you even dream of making a dent in that hot-tin-roof sky?
19 Tell us what we should say to him; we can't present our case due to darkness.
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"If you're so smart, give us a lesson in how to address God. We're in the dark and can't figure it out.
20 Should someone inform him that I wish to speak, or would anyone say he wants to be devoured?
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Do you think I'm dumb enough to challenge God? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?
21 For now, no one can look at the sun; it is bright in the sky; the wind has passed and cleared away the clouds.
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No one in his right mind stares straight at the sun on a clear and cloudless day.
22 From the north comes golden light, the awesome splendor of God.
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As gold comes from the northern mountains, so a terrible beauty streams from God.
23 As for the Almighty, we can't find him— he is powerful and just, abundantly righteous— he won't respond.
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"Mighty God! Far beyond our reach! Unsurpassable in power and justice! It's unthinkable that he'd treat anyone unfairly.
24 Therefore, people fear him; none of the wise can see him.
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So bow to him in deep reverence, one and all! If you're wise, you'll most certainly worship him."
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.